Adekunle Ajasin University was originally established in 1982 as Obafemi Awolowo University by the government of the old Ondo State. Three years later the government changed its name to Ondo State University. In 1999, following the creation of a new state in 1996, the university relocated to Akungba Akoko. It was here that the university was renamed Adekunle Ajasin University in honour of the late Governor Ajasin.
Academically, the university is organised into eight faculties: the faculty of law, faculty of agriculture, faculty of social sciences, faculty of management sciences, faculty of environmental designs, faculty of education, faculty of arts, and the faculty of science. Within each faculty are a number of departments offering a range of both undergraduate and graduate degree programmes.
The university offers a number of sports clubs such as table tennis, badminton, basketball, cricket and taekwondo that students can join. Throughout the year, students are given the opportunity to compete at both national and international level.
Research is an important part of the university¡¯s activity. There are a number of centres and institutes that facilitate this research including the Centre for Space, Energy and Environment, the Women Studies and Development Centre, and the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development.