Anatomy in Nigeria : History, Universities, Requirements, Salary & Master’s Degree

Anatomy in Nigeria : History, Universities, Requirements, Salary and Master’s Degree Programme

Human Anatomy is simply the study of the structures and make up of the human body. Anatomy aims to describe every structure of the human body in details. It is closely related to physiology which studies the functions of the various cells and tissues that make up the human body.

A a graduate if anatomy us known as an anatomist. Anatomy is a core part of Medicine and Surgery.

Anatomy is made of 3 parts which include: Gross Anatomy, Embryology, Neuroanatomy, Histology, and Genetics

History of Anatomy in Nigeria

According to the journal of contemporary medicine: Anatomical studies started in Nigeria as a subject in medicine at the then Higher College, Yaba, Lagos, as far back as 1930. Over the next decades, the study of Anatomy in schools has expanded. The subject is taught not only in colleges but in public (both federal and state-owned) and private universities as well.

There is no way we can talk about the human anatomy in Nigeria without referencing university of Ibadan, the then known college. The institution set the pace every other schools are following today, as early as the early 1960’s, University of Ibadan has Prof. Thomas Adesanya Ige Grillo and his Jamaican wife Prof Dorothea Baxter Grillo as pioneers of Anatomy in Nigeria. The late Prof Grillo was the then Head of Anatomy Department.

So…summarily, University of Ibadan trained most of the teachers of anatomy in the length and breadth of Nigeria today.

Prof Emeritus Baxter Grillo was later transferred to the University of Benin invents 1998 after the death of her husband (same year) where she continued teaching Anatomy until her retirement at the age of 93 years in 2019.

NUC Accredited Universities offering Anatomy in Nigeria

So far, 32 public and private universities in Nigeria offer programs leading to the award of bachelor’s degree in Anatomy, while 53 schools offer programs in medicine or dentistry which have Anatomy at its core.

Additionally, universities offering programs in other allied medical and healthcare programs such as Nursing, Pharmacy, Medical Laboratory Sciences, Physiotherapy, Environmental Health, Optometry, Radiography, Human Nutrition, Public Health, Pharmacology, Physiology, among others are required to take courses in Anatomy.

• Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma (AAU)
• Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU)
• Benue State University, Markurdi (BSU)
• Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU)
• Delta State University (DELSU)
• Ebonyi State University (EBSU)
• Ekiti State University (EKSU)
• Enugu State University of Science & Technology (ESUT)
• Gombe State University (GSU), Tudun Wada, Gombe
• Imo State University (IMSU)
• Kogi State University (KSU)
• Kaduna State University (KASU)
• Lagos State University (LASU)
• Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso (LAUTECH)
• Ondo State University Of Medical Sciences Laje Road, Ondo, Ondo State
• Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, Ogun
• Osun State University (UNIOSUN)
• Lagos State University
• Delta State University Abraka
• Niger Delta University (NDU), Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa
• Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (ABU)
• Bayero University Kano (BUK)
• Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK)
• Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ife
• University of Benin (UNIBEN)
• Usmanu Danfodiyyo University Sokoto (UDUSOK)
• Federal University Ndufu Alike Ikwo
• University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT)
• University of Lagos (UNILAG)
• University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN)
• University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID)
• University of Calabar (UNICAL)
• University of Jos (UNIJOS)
• University of Abuja (UNIABUJA)
• University of Ibadan (UNIBADAN)
• University of Ilorin (UNILORIN)
• University of Lagos (UNILAG)
• University of Uyo (UNIUYO)
• Afe Babalola University (ABUAD)
• Babcock University (BABCOCK)
• Covenant University
• Bingham University
• Bowen University
• Igbinedion University, Okada
• Gregory University, Uturu, Abia State
• Madonna University

Please do consult your JAMB bronchure to be up to date with the list of accredited institutions in Nigeria that offers Anatomy.. There may be additions or subtractions from the above list.

Requirements

5 credit passes in WAEC or NECO including english Language, Mathematics, Physics, Biology, and Chemistry in one or two sittings.

For JAMB or UTME, candidates are expected register for English Language, Biology, Physics, and Chemistry and get a cut off mark of at least a JAMB score of 200 to be eligible to write POST-UTME. The required JAMB score for anatomy may differ with chosen institution.

Duration of studying Anatomy

Anatomy is a-4 year degree programme in Nigerian universities after which a young graduate will be awarded certificate of B.Sc in Human Anatomy. Most Anatomy graduates after their compulsory one year NYSC program start working and/or put in for a Masters degree program almost immediately.

Masters in Anatomy in Nigeria

Postgraduate studies in Anatomy are carried
out in a few universities at masters and doctoral levels. The master’s program spans between 18 and 24 calendar months depending on the university while the doctoral lasts a minimum of 36 calendar months.

Entry requirements into the master’s program include a bachelor’s degree in Anatomy
or Bachelors of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery or Dentistry and other allied health sciences.

READ ALSO: Biomedical Engineering in Nigeria: History, Universities, Requirements, Duties, Salary, and Problems.

Moreover, Anatomy is also studied at specialized institutions or monotechnics such as Colleges of Health Technology and Schools of Nursing which
train manpower for the primary health care sector.

ANATOMIST SALARY/HOW LUCRATIVE IS ANATOMY IN NIGERIA?

The salary of an average anatomist depends on the institution you are working, and your added qualifications, for example, a masters degree. An anatomist working in a private institution earn close to NGN70,000 – NGN100,000 per month especially for those working in the hospitals. Anatomists in Education (lecturers) are paid around NGN120,000 – NGN150,000 monthly as entry level in the federal or state civil service. Your salary and allowances rise as you move up the civil service ladder.

The end.

This is an intellectual property of the NIGERIAN HEALTH BLOG