Master Plan and Development of the University at the Early Stages

University of Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria, is located at Ado-Ekiti, the state capital of Ekiti State.  The town lies on latitude 7040’north of the Equator and longitude 5040’east of Greenwich Meridian and about 400 meters above the sea level.  The land towards the Northeast is particularly hilly with granite outcrops said to be of volcanic origin with a height of about six hundred and ten meters above sea level.

Situated in the tropical humid region of Nigeria, Ado-Ekiti enjoys abundant rainfall (March-October) of over 1450 millimeters annually brought by the prevailing south westerly winds which blow mostly throughout the year.  During November through February, the cool and dry north eastern winds from the interior of the continent of Africa prevail.

The campus site is located on the urban fringe to the northern side of Ado-Ekiti, 2km south of Iworoko village.  It has an area of three thousand six hundred hectares.  The main access to the campus is on the Ado-Ekiti – Omu-Aran Road.

Ado-Ekiti by virtue of its strategic location within its region is the focus of transportation network for the requirements of inter-and intra-regional movements of people, goods and services.  It is traversed by two major inter-regional roads – the east to west Ikare-Ilesa road and the north to south Omu-Aran – Akure road, both of which are federal roads.

The town is located within a highly urbanized region.  Within 25 kilometre radius of Ad-Ekiti are towns such as Ilawe, Ikere, Ilu-Omoba, Oye; Ifaki, Iyin and Igede each with a population of over 40,000.  Within two hours of drive from Ado-Ekiti are institutions of higher learning that can be beneficial to the existence of the University.  These include;

1.    University of Education, Ikere-Ekiti
2.    University of Science and Technology, Ifaki-Ekiti
3.    Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (Private)
4.    The Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti
5.    Ondo State Polytechnic, Owo
6.    Achievers University, Owo (Private)
7.    Federal University of Technology, Akure
8.    Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo
9.    College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti
10.    Osun State College of Education, Ilesa
11.    College of Education, Oro

The University encountered considerable problems at inception but finally decided to commence the development of the permanent site, following the production of a mini master-plan when the production of the master-plan was started in 1983.

Activities on the Master plan commenced again in 1991 and were completed in 1993.  The campus has four zones:

(i)    The North East Zone for Academic and Residential uses I
(ii)    North West for Agricultural Development
(iii)    The South West as natural resources area
(iv)    South East for Academic and Residential use II

The original ‘Mini-campus’ has been fully integrated into the Master plan and a number of buildings have sprung up since 1990.  These include the WEMA Bank and Post Office buildings, the University Main Auditorium, the Lecture Theatre I, Extension to University Library, the Social Sciences Utility Building, the 4 in 1 lecture theatre, Oo’dua lecture theatre, the Educational Tax Fund (EFT) building and the Omolayo Administrative Block.

The State Government handed over two premises to the University – University Annex, which is used as the University Staff Quarters, University Guests House and University Staff School, while the University purchased the premises of the University Staff Club.

Other features in the landscape development are the donors of physical structures by Dr. L. A. Omolayo who donated a two storey block of offices as the Central Administrative Building.  The same donor constructed a students’ village which houses about 6,000 students, although outside the University land, but within walking distance. Other donors like Chief Afe Babalola SAN constructed an Auditorium in the Faculty of Law, Chief Alhaj Aliyu Mustapha constructed an Auditorium in the Faculty of the Social Sciences, Ado-Ekiti Community constructed a Faculty of Law building. The University Alumni Association under Mr. Kole Ajayi built an Alumni Centre, and donated a Toilet under Mr. Wale Jegede and also commenced a Moot and Trial Court for the Faculty of Law and another Toilet project during the tenure of Mr. Jadesola Babatola. 

Another step in the translation of the dream of a befitting campus for the University at 1st University foundation day on 30th March, 1983 was the turning of the sod on the permanent site and the launching of the N10 million naira endowment fund with an audience which includes: The Special Guest and Chief Launcher - Chief Obafemi Awolowo, The Visitor to the University and Governor of the State - Chief M. A. Ajasin, Chief (Mrs.) H. I. D. Awolowo, Chief (Mrs.) Funke Ajasin, Major General (Rtd.) R. A. Adebayo,Chief G. B. A. Akinyede, Chief T. O. S. Benson, Chief S. O. Fadahunsi, High Chief Adedapo Adekeye, Chief Olu Akinkugbe, Chief A. K. Oladapo and Prof. S. A. Aluko among others. 

Because of inadequate funding and resources, the University at inception decided to embark on the construction of a mini campus – on the permanent site of the University.  The mini campus project was planned with some alteration to the master-plan and anticipated standard of the buildings to be eventually erected in the main campus.  The first sets of buildings on campus are as follows:

1.  Faculty of Arts & Social Science       
2   100 Seater Lecturer Theatre       
3   Science Complex               
4   Library Complex           

The foundation stone was formally laid by the Military Governor - Commodore Bamidele Otiko on 30th March, 1984 while actual construction work commenced in November 1983. The official commissioning ceremony of the buildings took place exactly twelve months later, though it was not until August 1985 that the University finally moved to the new campus. Other projects that were executed on campus thereafter were:

a.    Workshop and Laboratory building for Geology Department
b.    Students Centre
c.    Faculty of Engineering Buildings
d.    Multi-Purpose Hall
e.    Lecture Theatre
f.    New office complex for the Vice-Chancellor
g.    Faculty of Social Science building
h.    Extension to the University Library
i.    Bank, Post Office and Shopping Complex (Funded by Wema Bank)
j.    Lecture Theatre (Funded by Odua Group)
k.    Sport Centre

In June 1988, the University launched an endowment fund and one of the launchers, Dr. L. A. Omolayo, pledged the donation of an administrative block for the University. In November 1988, foundation-laying of a 2 storey administrative block building was laid by the Governor - Commodore George.    The building is till date one of the most-ambitious project on the University

Students’ accommodation problems also confronted the University even with its non-residential policies and this resulted in the donation and successful completion of the hostel building projects embarked upon by some local governments, religious bodies, Dr. L. A. Omolayo, Bashorun M. K. O. Abiola’s One Million Naira grant for building Chief M. A. Ajasin Hostel and the Government Hostel constructed in the University.