University of Ado Ekiti

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The University of Ado Ekiti is a state-owned university in Nigeria. It has changed its name twice. It was originally named Obafemi Awolowo University after Nigeria's famous politician and opposition leader Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Its name was then changed to Ondo State University years before the death of Chief Obafemi Awolowo by the then Military Governor of Ondo State, Commodore Bamidele Otiko due to some political reasons. At the death of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, General Babangida (then Military President and Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria named the then University of Ife after the late sage to commemorate the opposition leader's death. The University is situated in Ado-Ekiti Nigeria

At the creation of Ekiti State out of old Ondo State, the government new Ondo State (under new political dispensation of Nigerian fourth republic decided to have its own separate University (hence the establishment of Ondo State University, Akungba-Akoko (later changed to Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko). The then Ondo State University, Ado-Ekiti became the property of new Ekiti State and the name was changed to reflect its new status. The university acquired its current name as a way of reflecting the place where it is sited, Ado-Ekiti, the capital of the newly created Ekiti State, Nigeria.

‡Lawal Musediq Olufemi, Department of Sociology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria; e-mail: flawal2005@yahoo.com