About Us

History

Discussions commenced during the 2011/2012 academic session between Professor M. O. Oriowo (then at University of Limpopo, South Africa) and Unilorin Directorate of Academic Planning. In August 2012, the Optometry and Vision Science curriculum proposal was submitted to the University of Ilorin. Subsequently, the programme was established in September 2013, and approved as an academic department under the newly established Faculty of Life Sciences by the University of Ilorin Senate on 30^th April, 2014.  The Department commenced with three support staff, and enrolled the first set of 38 students in October 2014 under the leadership of Prof. M. O. Oriowo, the founding & pioneer Head of Department. Prof. Matthew Oriowo was the first Departmental Admission/Clearance Officer, and 100 Level academic advisor. Prof. Oriowo requested for Dr. T. O. Agbabiaka (Microbiology Department) to assist as 100 Level advisor. Subsequently four lecturers (Dr. O.M. Ojo, Mr. B.K. Okesina, Dr. N.C. Chidi-Egboka and Dr. H.E. Agbabiaka) were recruited in the 2014/2015 academic session between November 2014 and April 2015. Two technologists were employed in March 2016.  The department runs a six year Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree program in line with the guidelines / stipulations of the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC), the Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Registration Board of Nigeria (ODORBN) and World Council of Optometry (WCO). With the support of the management, the programme is growing gradually in the aspects of manpower and infrastructure in accordance with University of Ilorin’s mission and vision statements. The Nigerian Universities’ Commission (NUC) visited the Department in 2015 and 2018 for resource verification and accreditation, respectively, and granted 5-year FULL accreditation status in 2018. The Optometry professional body (Optometrist and Dispensing Registration Board of Nigeria) visited in 2016 and 2017 for Resource Verifications and Initial Accreditation respectively and granted department interim accreditation in 2017. The Optometry professional Board visited again on October 3^rd and 4^th  2019 and granted department interim professional accreditation.