History

History

The University of Ilorin is located in the ancient city of Ilorin, about 500 kilometres from Abuja, the Federal capital. Ilorin, the Capital of Kwara State, is strategically located at the geographical and cultural confluence of the North and South. University of Ilorin was one of the seven institutions of higher learning established by a Decree of the Federal Military Government in August, 1975. This step, taken to implement one of the educational directives of the country’s Third National Development Plan, was aimed at providing more opportunities for Nigerians aspiring to acquire university education and to generate high level man-power, so vital for the rapidly expanding economy.

The then University College of Ilorin was initially affiliated to the University of Ibadan. Dr. T.N. Tamuno, Professor and Head of History Department at the University of Ibadan, was appointed the first Principal of the College in September, 1975. Shortly after Professor Tamuno’s appointment as Principal of the College, he was appointed the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan. It therefore, became necessary to appoint another Principal in the person of Professor O.O. Akinkugbe, former Dean of the then Faculty of Medicine, University of Ibadan, in December 1975.

The then new Principal, Professor O.O. Akinkugbe, made several visits to the second Military Governor of Kwara State, the late Colonel Ibrahim Taiwo in connection with the new institution, such that by March 1976, he had established residence at Ilorin. The support given to the fledgling Institution by Governor Taiwo continued even more vigorously under the third Military Governor of the State, Brigadier George A. Innih, who ceded a portion of the temporary site of the Kwara State College of Technology to the University. The site, up till now, serves as the mini campus of the University.

Academic/Physical Development

Following an entrance examination, 200 foundation students were admitted into residence on Saturday, October 23rd, 1976, and academic activities commenced on Monday, October 25th, 1976, after the Principal’s maiden address at about 10.00am in the Africa Hall. The University College had three foundation Faculties namely: Arts, Science and Education. The Institution started to develop its programmes in a way that not less than 60% of its effort was directed towards science-oriented programmes. In October 1977, the Institution attained full autonomous status and has since then developed by leaps and bounds. The student population of 200 in 1976 has increased to more than 50,000 by the 2024/2025 academic session, while the total staff strength of the University stood at approximately 3,632 as at September 25, 2024.

Up till January 1982, the University carried out its academic programmes, involving the Faculties of Arts, Science, Education, Engineering & Technology, Business and Social Sciences, and the Pre-Clinical aspect of the Health Sciences on the Mini-Campus. The law degree programme was initially established in 1983/84 session as a Department in the Faculty of Business and Social Sciences. Though cancelled in 1986/87, it was resuscitated in 1993/94 as a full fledged Faculty. The completion of the Faculty blocks for Natural Sciences and Engineering as well as 8 blocks of student hotels by December 1981, made it possible, on the 2nd of January 1982, for the actual movement of over 1,000 science-oriented students to the Main-Campus to pursue their various academic programmes.

The Main Campus currently houses the Faculties of Agriculture, Arts, Basic Medical Sciences, Basic Clinical Sciences, Clinical Sciences, Communication and Information Science, Education, Engineering and Technology, Law, Life Sciences, Pharmacy, Physical Sciences, Management Sciences, Social Sciences and Veterinary Medicine. The expansion of the University includes the establishment of Centres for Cultural Studies and Creative Arts, and Cybersecurity and Sustainable Development, Blue Economy and Regenerative Energy.

Over the years, the main campus has witnessed development in physical structures such as the construction of Senate Building which houses the Vice Chancellor’s Office, Governing Council Chamber, administrative offices of the registry and bursary units. Other physical structures on the main campus include buildings for Postgraduate School, the Main University Library, Computer Services and Information Technology (COMSIT), Central Research Laboratory, Computer Based Tests Centres with 1,500 capacity, Works Yard, Multipurpose Hall, Researchers’ Lodge, Students Union Building, 2,000 seat multipurpose Auditorium, Advancement centre, General Studies, the Alumni/Endowment Office.

Aside from two lecture theatres commissioned in 1997, there is an upsurge, from 2002 to date, in the physical development of the Main Campus where each of the 16 faculties have at least one lecture theatre. With the addition of five hostels to the existing public hostels in 2002, it was still grossly inadequate to cater for the student population on campus. A Build, Operate, and Transfer approach was deployed by the University management for Investors to construct private hostels which saw significant improvement on the accommodation of students on campus. However, the hostels are still inadequate as more than 50% of the student population are unable to get accommodation on the main campus. The university management plans to make the main campus the focus of accommodation for nearly all the students.

The University has a water Dam and Treatment Plant to provide uninterrupted water supply to the main campus. Apart from the renovation of buildings, a systematic upgrading of teaching and research facilities is being undertaken by the University within its lean resources. This includes provision of computers, laboratory equipment, etc. There are some Revenue-yielding projects which are under Unilorin Holdings Limited such as Unilorin Computer Centre (Training Wing), Unilorin Bookshop, the Unilorin Press, the Guest Houses and Researchers’ Lodge, Unilorin Petrol Station, and Water Factory.

The Mini-Campus houses the Institute of Education (IOE), Centre for Open and Distance Learning (CODL), JUPEB Unilorin, Ilorin Business School and Centre for Management and Leadership including Canteens and Shopping Complex. Unilorin Preliminary Remedial programme has physical structures in Fufu while the Unilorin Sugar Research Institute and GGMAX Unilorin Farm are some of the physical structures outside of the main campus.

Growth of Faculties

From three faculties in 1976, today there are 16 faculties: Arts (1976), Science (1976) Education (1976), Engineering & Technology (1978), Business & Social Sciences (1981), Agriculture (1982), Law (1993, after an initial start-up in 1983), Basic Medical Sciences (2004), Clinical Sciences (2004) and Communication and Information Sciences (2008). Currently, we now have 16 Faculties: Arts, Agriculture, Basic Clinical Sciences, Basic Medical Sciences, Clinical Sciences, Communication and Information Sciences, Education, Engineering and Technology, Environmental Sciences, Law, Life Sciences, Management Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Social Sciences and Veterinary Medicine.

Altogether, there are 130 academic departments in the existing 16 faculties. Undergraduate degree programmes run for 3,4,5, or 6 years, depending on entry qualifications and discipline. The University started with the traditional British “Three Term System” but later changed into a modified form of the American “Two Semester System” called Harmattan and Rain semesters with effect from 1979/80 session.

Each semester comprises one half of an academic year as determined by Senate. Also instruction in the various Faculties with the exception of the Health Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, is by the course system. These courses are quantified into credits. The University has teaching support units which include the Computer Centre, Central Research Laboratory (CRL), Centre for Research, Development and In-House Training (CREDIT), Centre for Open and Distance Learning (CODL), Central Workshop and Stores, Biological Garden, Community Based Experience and Services (COBES), Medical Educational Resources Unit, General Studies (Use of English/National Awareness) Division, and Teaching & Research Farm.

There are also the Public Units which are the University School, the University Secondary School, Institute of Education and Educational Technology Centre. Although an academic unit, the Library is actively involved in rendering service to the University and the public. In addition, there is a Sugar Research Institute which is mainly a research unit served by academic mainly from Science and Agriculture Faculties.

The University as currently composed has tremendous potentials and poised to adhere the aspirations of its founding fathers.