About Us

History

The Department of History is one of the foundation Departments in the University of Ilorin. This may not be unconnected with the fact that the pioneer Principal of the University College, late Professor T. N. Tamuno was the sitting Head of the Department of History at the University of Ibadan at the time of his appointment.

Although the University official opened in August 1975 as a University College affiliated to Nigeria’s Premier University, the University of Ibadan, along with six other higher institutions (Bayero University Kano, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, University of Calabar, University of Jos, University of Port Harcourt and University of Maiduguri), by a Decree of the Federal Military Government, academic activities only commenced in earnest October 1976 with three Faculties namely: Arts, Science and Education. Two hundred (200) pioneering students were admitted into residence after an entrance examination with thirty (30) foundation students admitted into the Department of History in 1976. Besides the pioneer Principal of the University College, Professor Tekena Tamuno, a seasoned historian and an indefatigable foremost figure of the Ibadan School of History, other key players in the Unilorin School of History included foundation lecturers of the Department such as Dr Saka Balogun, Professor R. J. Garvin, Dr. A.S. Adebola, H.O. Danmole, Z. O. Apata, J. T. Dosunmu, Mr Iwerebo and Mr Walker. They were later joined by Dr. White, Dr Darick, Professor Ade Obayemi, Professor R. O Lasisi, etc. till the present scholars still flagging off the banners.

Today, the Department has eighteen (18) tenured academic staff, specialising in various fields of historical research as well as four (4) Non-teaching staff.

Heads of Department from inception (1976 ) till date include:

1. Dr. Saka Balogun – 1976 – 1978
2. Prof. R. J. Garvin – 1978 – 1979
3. Prof. Boniface Obichere – 1979 – 1980
4. Dr. A. S. Adebola – 1990 – 1983
5. Prof. H. O. Danmole – 1983 – 1986
6. Dr. Saka Balogun – 1986 – 1989
7. Prof. H. O. Danmole – 1989 – 1992
8. Prof. Ade Obayemi – 1992 – 1997
9. Dr. Z. O. Apata – 1997 – 1998
10. Prof. R. O. Lasisi – 1998 – 2001
11. Dr. Z. O. Apata – 2001 – 2003
12. Dr. R. A. Olaoye – 2003 – 2005
13. Dr. Mrs. C. O. O. Agboola 2005 – 2007
14. Prof. B. M. Eyinla – Aug. 2007 – July 2010
15. Dr S. O. Aghalino – Aug. 2010 – July 2012
16. Dr. P. F. Adebayo – Aug. 2012 – July 2014
17. Dr. K. D. Aiyedun – Aug. 2014 – Nov. 2016
18. Dr. I. A. Jawondo – Nov. 2016 – March 2018
19. Dr. L. E. Odeh – March 2018 – March 2020
20. Dr. A. S. Afolabi – March. 2020 – July 2024
21. Dr. A. J. Aboyeji – August 2024 – Date

Inaugural Lectures in the Department

S/No	Faculty	Department	Inaugural Lecturer	Date	Topic
13	Arts	History	Prof. Ade Obayemi	19th Jan, 1984	“The Great Traditions and its Impact on Modern African Archaeological and Historiographical Reflections”
96	Arts	History	Prof R. O. Lasisi	4th August, 2011	The Image of Africa: Rhetoric and Reality of Afro-European Relations
263	Arts	History	Prof. S. O. Aghalino	15th August, 2024	Crude But Sweet: Anatomy of the Devil’s Excreta

Transfiguration

In the light of the prevailing trends and evolution of new trajectories in the international system in a highly globalised and increasingly inter-dependent world, the Department of History, University of Ilorin, under the headship of Prof. Samuel Ovuete Aghalino, during the 2010/2011 Academic Session, re-modified its curriculum and changed its nomenclature to Department of History and International Studies. The ripple effect of this made History to become a very exciting and even more engaging field of study. Students’ population explosion which has turned the Department to the doyen of admission seekers in the Faculty of Arts, and in deed the most subscribed University in Nigeria, also came as a secondary fallout.  The Department presently runs the following Programmes, namely:

1. B.A. History and Diplomatic Studies
2. M.A. History and International Studies
3. M.Phil. History and International Studies
4. Ph.D. History and International Studies

The Department has produced innumerable men and women of prominence in the military, academics, politics, industries, administration, etc. not only in Nigeria but across the globe.