Obafemi Awolowo University
Former names | University of Ife |
|---|---|
| Motto | For Learning and Culture |
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1961 |
| Chancellor | Yahaya Abubakar |
| Vice-Chancellor | Adebayo Simeon Bamire |
| Students | c. 35,000 |
| Undergraduates | 13,000 |
| Postgraduates | 7500 |
| Location | , Nigeria 7°31′06″N 4°31′22″E / 7.51833°N 4.52278°E |
| Campus | Urban 2,020 hectares (5,000 acres) |
| Colours | Midnight blue and gold |
| Affiliations | Adeyemi College of Education |
| Website | www |
Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) formerly known as the University of Ife is a federal university in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. The university was founded in 1961 and classes commenced in October 1962 as the University of Ife by the regional government of Western Nigeria, which was led by Samuel Ladoke Akintola. It was renamed "Obafemi Awolowo University" on 12 May 1987, so by the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida led military administration, in honour of Obafemi Awolowo (1909–1987), the first premier of the Western Region of Nigeria, who initially thought of the idea of establishing the university.