About Us

History

Discussions commenced during the 2011/2012 academic session between Professor M. O. Oriowo (then at University of Limpopo, South Africa) and University of Ilorin 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 August 2013, and approved as an academic department under the newly established Faculty of Life Sciences by the University of Ilorin Senate on 30th April, 2014. The Department commenced with one academic staff (Prof. Oriowo) and three support staff, and enrolled the first set of 38 students in October 2014 under the founding / pioneer Head of Department (HOD), Prof. M. O. Oriowo. Prof. Oriowo served as the first 100 Level academic advisor who then later requested the secondment of Dr. T. O. Agbabiaka (Microbiology Department), and subsequently four lecturers (Drs. Ojo, Okesina, Chidi-Egboka and Agbabiaka) were recruited in the 2014/2015 academic session between November 2014 and April 2015. Two technologists were employed in March 2016. In October 2016, Prof. (Mrs). O. B. Ajayi was appointed an Adjunct Professor, while in March 2017 Prof. (Mrs) E. Oghre also joined as Adjunct Professor. On the request of Prof. Oriowo, between March 2018 and March 2019, Prof. Eki Oghre, while on sabbatical leave served as HOD. Thereafter, Prof. Oriowo was re-appointed HOD in March 2019. Mr. F. O. Akanbi has assisted in the Ophthalmic Optics Workshop as Visiting Chief Optician since 2018. During the 2020/2021 academic session, Drs. M. Fasalojo, and A. E. Ige were recruited as Lecturer II; while Profs. M. O. Emina, O.B. Ajayi, and E. Iyamu (from University of Benin) were appointed as Adjunct Professors; and Dr. (Mrs) Bernadine N. Ekpenyong (from University of Calabar as Adjunct Senior Lecturer. Also in 2020/2021 session one sabbatical appointment was awarded to Dr. F. O. Anichukwu (University of Ibadan). In 2021/2022 session four sabbatical appointments were awarded to Prof. E. C. Esenwah (Federal University of Technology, Owerri); and Dr. U. E. Osagiede (Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife); Dr. J. Dongo (University of Ibadan Teaching Hospital); and Dr. Franca C. Awurum. Recently, Dr. Eseosa Isekhure was recruited as Lecturer II. One Optician Mr. T. O. Abe and Laboratory Assistant were also recruited at mid- technical levels.
The Department operates a six-year Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree program in line with the guidelines / stipulations of the Nigerian Universities Commission, the Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Registration Board of Nigeria (ODORBN) and World Council of Optometry (WCO). The Department has been privileged with the support of 14 Associate Lecturers within University of Ilorin (ranging from Professors, Senior Lecturers to Lecturer I) teaching various courses such as Physical Optics, Human Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Ethics and Jurisprudence, Epidemiology, Genetics, Microbiology, Applied Psychology, Introduction to Scientific Research, Practice Management, General Pathology, Endocrinology and Nutrition etc.
The Optometry and Vision Science building was commissioned on 23rd October 2015. Subsequently, lectures commenced on 26th October, 2015 and the department has been growing steadily. This has been due to the support of the University management, and in accordance with University of Ilorin’s mission and vision statements in the aspects of manpower and infrastructure development. From inception the Department was poised in fulfilling the requirements of the statutory accreditation agencies: The Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Registration Board of Nigeria (ODORBN) and the National Universities’ Commission (NUC). In April 2015, the NUC conducted a resource verification exercise and nodded to continue the programme. On 24th February 2016 and 18-19th May 2017, the ODORBN conducted professional resource verification and pre-clinical accreditation exercises, respectively and gave the authority to proceed with the programme (see attached appendices A and B for authority to continue and interim for pre-clinical accreditation). In early 2019, the Department was awarded full accreditation by the NUC following the national accreditation exercises of Nigerian Universities’ academic programmes in October/November 2018 (see attached appendix C). On Thursday, the 3rd, and Friday, the 4th of October 2019, the ODORBN paid a professional clinical accreditation visit and gave a second interim status (resulting in DENIAL) due to staffing and Library resources issues. On 27/28th April 2023, the ODORBN conducted a professional accreditation exercise and gave the Department full accreditation status. From 22nd to 24th October 2023, the NUC accreditation team visited and gave full academic accreditation status.