Obafemi Awolowo University
School's landscape | |
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 by the regional government of Western Nigeria led by Samuel Ladoke Akintola, and classes commenced in October 1962. The university was renamed on 12 May 1987 by Ibrahim Babangida to honour Obafemi Awolowo (1909–1987), the first premier of the Western Region, who initially thought of the idea of establishing the university.