INTRODUCTION

History and Development
Geology in its classical form studies the planet earth with emphasis on its materials deposition of the materials, processes that bring about changes in them and the succession of these changes. Its development for a long time has drawn copiously upon mathematical, chemical, and biological sciences. Thus beside the classical branches of Geology, there are other branches emphasizing such relationship as mentioned above e.g. geophysics, geochemistry etc.
The usefulness of Geology and other Geology related sciences may be appreciated from two directions;
(1) As inhabitant of the earth we study for the sake of acquiring some knowledge about our immediate environment and build with patient observation and inspired guess, the countless episode of the past ages.
(2) We also study geology because of its usefulness. Most of the raw materials of modern industry come from the earth –coal, petroleum, ores of useful metals, precious metal, industrial minerals –salt, fertilizers, refractories and abrasives are all derived from the earth. Geological processes affect the surfaces upon which we build our structures. Understanding the earth, therefore, is the essential prerequisites for harnessing its resources for mans’ well being.

PHILOSOPHY

Coping with and managing her restive population estimated at over 100 million is compelling Nigeria to embark on large-scale exploration and exploitation of her metallic and non-metallic ores as well as other resources such as coal, oil, groundwater and building materials. This is necessary in order to provide sustainable supply of raw materials of modern industries which Nigeria needs for industrial growth and sustainable development. In the effort to improve exploration and exploitation of resources, innovations/improvements have been made on techniques largely through the presentation of better models for the origin and mode of concentration of the resources.
There is also the problem of the management of the environment. Various geological processes affect our roads, buildings, dams and other civil structures. Geological processes also affect our agricultural practices. To enable our graduates cope with these challenges, the programme is designed to give the basic theories, principles, classical and modern field techniques for geological and geophysical data acquisition, laboratory data processing and analysis, as well as modern interpretational trends. These will enable our graduates cope with the challenges of modern geological practice.

OBJECTIVES
The objective of the programme is aimed at graduating students who shall confidently, with enough theory, field training and practice, handle geologically based problems in the environment, oil and mineral industries, water resources development, management and construction, with a high degree of acceptable success for sustainable development. Such problems include those of mineral resources and mining, energy (coal, petroleum, natural gas, etc), water resources, pollution and contamination.
Thus our graduates are trained to become employable in several geologic productive and service institutions. They can also be self-employed and can even be employers of labour themselves.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES:
On graduation, students will be competent to undertake work as professional geologist that is sufficiently equipped with enough geophysics in industries and government services. These include small and large scale mining and mineral exploration industries, oil industries, civil engineering organization, environmental management agencies among others. They can also establish their own private businesses in any field of geological practice and thereby generate money and employment within their communities of abode. They can also pursue higher degrees in field of geological and environmental sciences.