Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) also known has the Great Ife is a popular federal government owned located in the heart of Yorubaland in the south-west region of Nigeria Ile-Ife, Osun State .
The university was founded in 1961 and classes commenced a year later in October 1962 as the University of Ife by the regional government of Western Nigeria, led by late Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola, and was later renamed Obafemi Awolowo University on 12 May 1987 in honour of Chief Obafemi Awolowo (1909–1987), first premier of the Western Region of Nigeria, whose brainchild the university was. Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) runs with the motto "For Learning and Culture"
The current Vice-Chancellor of this Great citadel of learning and culture is Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede with Students over 35,000 under either their undergraduate and post graduate programs.