Department of History and International Studies

Academic activities commenced in the Department of History in 1976 following the official opening of the University of Ilorin in 1975. In the light of the tremendous upheavals in the global environment and dramatic changes in world affairs that have taken place during the last decade, History has become a very exciting and challenging field of study.  This is largely because of the growing need to comprehend the prevailing issues and trends in the International system in a world that has become highly globalised and interdependent.  The Department of History and International Studies, University of Ilorin, is aware of these developments and conscious of the changing patterns and evolution of new trajectories in international politics.  It is within this context and reflecting new waves in historical scholarship that the Department deemed it necessary to modify its curriculum and change its name to Department of History and International Studies during the 2010/ 2011 Academic session. The department started with five academic staff and 30 Students. Since then, there has been rapid expansion in the number of Academic staff and students. Currently, the department has 11 Academic staff, specialising in various fields of historical research and four Non-teaching staff. The Department runs three programmes at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. These are the Bachelor of Arts Degree; Master of Arts Degree and the Doctor of Philosophy Degree. The incumbent Head of Department is Dr.S.O. Aghalino. His area of specialization is Economic History with emphasis on Oil and Gas and the Environment of the Niger Delta.