On this day, 12th of May in 1987, the regime of Ibrahim Babangida renamed University of Ife as Obafemi Awolowo University.
The renaming was done by then military president, Ibrahim Babangida in honour of the first Premier of the Western Region of Nigeria, Obafemi Awolowo (1909-1987), whose idea the university was.
The Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) was founded in 1961 and classes commenced in October 1962 as the University of Ife by the Regional Government of Western Nigeria, led by late Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola, and was renamed Obafemi Awolowo University on 12 May 1987 in honour of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo (1909-1987), first premier of the Western Region of Nigeria.
The University is situated on a vast expanse of land totaling 11,861 hectares in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Southwest of Nigeria.
