About Us
The Department of Sociology was created alongside other Departments when the University commenced its studies in the 2011/2012 academic session. The bachelor’s degree in social work came up as a programme in the Department of Sociology in the 2013/2014 Academic Session. In the 2018/2019 academic session, Social Work became a full-fledged Department and was separated from Department of Sociology, but a mutual relationship in terms of research, teaching, and exchange programmes is inexistence between the two departments. Only recently in November 2023, through the visionary approach of the current Vice Chancellor, Professor Shehu Abdul Rahman, a second programme again gained full autonomy; that is the B.Sc. Criminology and Security Studies programme which is now a full-fledged Department. These two growth projectiles from our humble homestead, indicate the dynamism which follows the positive attributions that engaging in sociological research can engender for human development. Meaning basically that no matter how you view it, Sociology enables thrusts in various academic directions that put the human being at its very centre of endeavour. Such that alongside pursuing the vision and mission of the Federal University of Lafia, our students acquire research skills that can, upon graduation, grant self-evident independence for income generation and self-reliance in a world suitably favoured to obtaining and maintaining sustainable developmental goals. The Department is therefore continuously guided by its vision of being dynamic and well-grounded in research and scholarship using global best practices. We also work assiduously to develop and inculcate in both staff and students a research culture that will enable them to contribute positively to social research, social policy, and societal development.
Our goals
(i) To build a dynamic Department grounded in research and scholarship in line with global best practice.
(ii) To develop and inculcate in both staff and students a research culture that will enable them to contribute positively to social research, social policy and societal development.
(iii) Instill in students a sound knowledge of Sociology, an appreciation of its applications in different socio-cultural contexts and to involve the students in an intellectually stimulating and satisfying experience of learning and studying the workings of the society.
(iii) Provide students with broad and well-balanced knowledge of sociological theories and methods.
(iv) Cultivate in students the ability to apply their sociological knowledge and skills to the understanding and solution of societal problems in Nigeria and elsewhere.
(v) provide students with relevant knowledge and skill base from which they can proceed to further studies in specialized areas of Sociology or multi-disciplinary areas involving Sociology;
(vi) Instill in students an appreciation of the importance of Sociology in socio-cultural, educational, legal, economic, political, industrial, and environmental contexts.
(vii) Develop in students a range of useful competencies for public or private service, and for self-employment.
(ii) To develop and inculcate in both staff and students a research culture that will enable them to contribute positively to social research, social policy and societal development.
(iii) Instill in students a sound knowledge of Sociology, an appreciation of its applications in different socio-cultural contexts and to involve the students in an intellectually stimulating and satisfying experience of learning and studying the workings of the society.
(iii) Provide students with broad and well-balanced knowledge of sociological theories and methods.
(iv) Cultivate in students the ability to apply their sociological knowledge and skills to the understanding and solution of societal problems in Nigeria and elsewhere.
(v) provide students with relevant knowledge and skill base from which they can proceed to further studies in specialized areas of Sociology or multi-disciplinary areas involving Sociology;
(vi) Instill in students an appreciation of the importance of Sociology in socio-cultural, educational, legal, economic, political, industrial, and environmental contexts.
(vii) Develop in students a range of useful competencies for public or private service, and for self-employment.
Programmes
i. Diploma In Criminology and Security Studies,
ii. Bachelor of Science Sociology,
iii. Bachelor of Science Sociology (Parttime),
iv. Bachelor of Science Criminology and Security Studies (Parttime),
v. Postgraduate Diploma in Crime and Security Management,
vi. Master’s in industrial and Labour Relations (Professional)
vii. Masters in Criminology and Security Studies (Professional)
viii. Master of Science of Sociology,
Doctor of Philosophy
ii. Bachelor of Science Sociology,
iii. Bachelor of Science Sociology (Parttime),
iv. Bachelor of Science Criminology and Security Studies (Parttime),
v. Postgraduate Diploma in Crime and Security Management,
vi. Master’s in industrial and Labour Relations (Professional)
vii. Masters in Criminology and Security Studies (Professional)
viii. Master of Science of Sociology,
Doctor of Philosophy
Staff of the department
HOD's profile
Esther Anenge Gbaden attended University of Maiduguri and University of Ibadan from where she obtained a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree and Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree in Sociology with specialization in Medical Sociology. She had obtained Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Sociology and Anthropology from the University of Maiduguri and a Diploma in Social Work for Development from the University of Jos. She currently lectures in the Department of Sociology, Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria having voluntarily withdrawn her services from the University of Maiduguri where she taught Sociology in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology from 2008 until 2015. She is a Senior Lecturer and the Acting Head of Department of Sociology, Federal University of Lafia where she was recently awarded the Best Head of Department 2023 aside other commendations for her commitment to duty. Her research interest is in accessibility and utilization of health and medical services/facilities, maternal healthcare, and sexuality, with over 30 articles in both national and international journals. Dr. Esther A. Gbaden has supervised and mentored several students both at the Undergraduate and postgraduate levels. She can be contacted via her official email: esther.gbaden@socsci.fulafia.edu.ng or mrsestheragbaden@gmail.com
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Admission Requirements
Candidates wishing to study Sociology must obtain a credit in Mathematics and English Language as well as passes at credit level in any three of the following: Economics, Geography, Government, History, Christian /Islamic Religions and any other arts subjects at the SSCE, GCE, NECO or their equivalent at not more than two sittings.
Direct Entry
In addition to the UTME requirements, candidate for Direct Entry should possess a minimum of 2 GCE (Advanced Level) passes or its equivalent, one of which should be English Language, Mathematics and any of Economics or Geography or Government as required for the 3 – year (6 – Semester) programme
Direct Entry
In addition to the UTME requirements, candidate for Direct Entry should possess a minimum of 2 GCE (Advanced Level) passes or its equivalent, one of which should be English Language, Mathematics and any of Economics or Geography or Government as required for the 3 – year (6 – Semester) programme
Welcome Address
It is indeed my pleasure to welcome you to the Department of Sociology, Federal University of Lafia. I congratulate you for your success at the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and the Direct Entry (DE) schedule run by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB). I assure you that it is a wonderful opportunity to decide to read a course like Sociology. This is because Sociology (akin to social physics by August Comte) is a Science of the Society with focus on social order and development. As such, numerous career opportunities abound for someone with a degree in Sociology living in a world filled with myriad of social interactions that result from social construction or malfunctioning. After completion of eight (or six for Direct Entry students) semesters you would earn a Bachelor of Science degree called B.Sc. Sociology that places you at per with your contemporaries anywhere in the world.
In the department of Sociology, Federal University of Lafia, we have erudite Professors and very senior academics who are willing to impact the students not just academically but also morally as our students are not only taught the science of society but are also mentored into enterprising and well cultured graduates.