University in Nigeria
Ilesa, Osun State
University profile
The University of Ilesa (UNILESA) is a state-owned university in Ilesa, Osun State, south-western Nigeria. It was established on 27 September 2022 when the law creating it was signed, following the upgrade of the Osun State College of Education, Ilesa. The National Universities Commission recognised it on 10 November 2022 as the 60th state-owned university and the 220th university in the Nigerian university system. Its motto is Knowledge, Virtue, Wisdom. The university was founded to widen access to education, promote entrepreneurial education, train job creators, and produce experts able to exploit the mining opportunities and agricultural potential of Osun State and Nigeria.
Professor Taiwo Olufemi Asaolu, Ph.D., FCA, is the pioneer Vice-Chancellor, appointed with the other principal officers on 12 April 2023. The Registrar is Mr. 'Funso Ojo, the Bursar is Dr. Mukail Oyesegun Oyekanmi and the University Librarian is Mr. Adewale Amobi Ogunsipe. The mission is to be a leading institution advancing knowledge and skills through research and innovative teaching, and the vision is to be a foremost university contributing to sustainable national development and globally relevant. The core values are summed up in the acronym ILESA: Insight with Integrity, Loyalty with Liberty, Enterprise with Excellence, Skills with Soundness, Ardour with Audacity.
The university is a conventional, multi-faculty institution. Its faculties include Arts, Basic Medical Sciences, Computing, Education, Law, Medical Laboratory Sciences, Nursing Sciences, Sciences, Science Laboratory Technology, Social and Management Sciences and Agriculture. The 2025/2026 programme list runs to 112 undergraduate programmes, including Optometry (O.D.), Physiotherapy (DPT), Radiography, Dental Technology, Dental Therapy, Pharmacology, Nursing Science, Medical Laboratory Science, three Law options (Private and Commercial, Public and International, Common and Islamic), Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Software Engineering, Data Science, and a large Education offering of 38 programmes. Distinctive offerings include Chinese Studies, French, Brewing Science and Technology, Geology and Mining Science, Clothing and Textile Design, and Geography and Geoinformatics. For 2026/2027 the university announced 13 newly approved programmes.
The Faculty of Nursing Sciences was established in 2023 under pioneer Dean Prof. Ganiyat Ishola; the B.N.Sc. programme completed NUC resource verification and accreditation and has Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria accreditation. The Institute of Chinese Studies, approved by Senate on 10 February 2025, offers a Certificate in Chinese Studies, a Business Executive Certificate in Chinese Studies and a Diploma in Chinese Studies. The university also runs a sandwich programme directorate and an online undergraduate portal, and hosts a Faculty of Education conference and public lecture series.
Education students pay no tuition: the university announced tuition-free admission to all Education courses from the 2024/2025 session. Applicants must be at least 16 years old, and all fees are paid through the official student portal.
The University of Ilesa has announced tuition-free admission to all Faculty of Education courses starting from the 2024/2025 academic session. Education students still pay the other listed fees, such as ICT, library, examination and other charges, as shown in the university's fee schedule. See the official 2026/27 school fees page. All payments are made only through the student portal.
Tuition-Free Admission for Education Courses →
Browse the scholarships listed for University of Ilesa, Osun State and check each award’s eligibility.
View scholarships for University of Ilesa, Osun State →Candidates must have scored at least 160 in the 2026 UTME and chosen the University of Ilesa as first choice on the JAMB portal; those who did not must change their institution on JAMB CAPS before applying. Each programme also has its own cut-off mark above the university minimum.
Credit passes in at least five relevant subjects at not more than two sittings in WASSCE, NECO, NABTEB or the Senior Arabic and Islamic Secondary School Certificate Examination (SAISSCE). Candidates should check the O-Level requirements and UTME subject combination for their chosen programme.
Applicants must be at least 16 years old by 30 September 2026 to be eligible for Post-UTME screening.
Direct Entry candidates must hold relevant qualifications for admission into 200 Level. They apply through the JAMB admission platform as well as the university portal.
Apply on the admissions portal (admissions.unilesa.edu.ng) and pay the non-refundable Post-UTME / Direct Entry screening fee of N2,000 (excluding portal access charges) through the portal into the university's dedicated account; cash is not accepted. Applications for the 2026/2027 session closed on 30 September 2026. Shortlisted and admitted candidates are notified through JAMB CAPS and the university admission portal. The university states it has no admissions agents or consultants.
The Certificate and Business Executive Certificate in Chinese Studies (three or six months) have no formal academic entry requirement. The two-semester Diploma in Chinese Studies requires five O-Level credit passes in any subjects including English Language.
The university is located in Ilesa, Osun State, Nigeria (P.M.B. 5089, Ilesa). Lectures, public lectures and events are held at the Prompt Multipurpose Hall. The University Library offers an online catalogue and a repository.
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