It is my great pleasure, as Head of Department, to warmly welcome you to our vibrant academic community. The Department stands as one of the leading centres of geoscience education and research in Nigeria, with a longstanding tradition of excellence, integrity, and national relevance.
Our Department is distinguished by two comprehensive academic programmes: Geology and Applied Geophysics, both offered at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. These programmes are carefully structured to provide students with strong theoretical foundations, robust field and laboratory training, and exposure to modern analytical and computational techniques. Through these twin disciplines, we equip our graduates with the knowledge and professional competence required to address contemporary challenges in earth resources exploration, environmental sustainability, groundwater development, energy transition, engineering geology, and geohazard mitigation.
The Geology programme emphasizes the study of earth materials, structures, processes, and history, while the Applied Geophysics programme focuses on the application of physical principles and quantitative methods to investigate the subsurface. Together, they provide a complementary and interdisciplinary approach that reflects global best practices in geoscience education.
Fieldwork remains a cornerstone of our training, reinforced by laboratory investigations, research projects, industry collaborations, and advanced data analysis. Our graduates have consistently distinguished themselves in academia, the energy and mining industries, environmental consultancy, public institutions, and research organizations within Nigeria and internationally.
Research within the Department spans petrology, structural geology, sedimentology, mineral exploration, hydrogeology, engineering geology, environmental geoscience, exploration geophysics, and near-surface geophysical applications. We actively promote innovation, collaboration, and solutions-driven research that contributes meaningfully to national development and global scientific advancement. Our pride is in our products who have excelled in the Geoscience world and now occupy strategic positions in the industry, academics and in Government.
As you explore our website, you will learn more about our academic offerings, research initiatives, facilities, staff, students, and alumni network. Whether you are a prospective student, researcher, industry partner, or alumnus, we invite you to connect with us and become part of our enduring commitment to excellence in Geology and Applied Geophysics.
On behalf of our staff and students, I warmly welcome you to the Department and look forward to your engagement with us.
Prof. S. L. Fadiya FNMGS, FNAPE, FHEA
Head of Department
History
The Department was established as a unit in the Department of Physics in April 1965 at the Ìbàdàn campus of the then University of Ifè. The Department ran a BSc degree in Geology until 1974/75 academic year when BSc Applied Geophysics degree programme was introduced. It was the first Department to introduce the undergraduate Applied Geophysics programme in Nigeria.
The Department of Geology, Ọbáfémi Awólówò University, Nigeria is located in the Physical Sciences Building of the University, which has the most beautiful home campus in Africa. The campus is situated in the ancient city of Ilé-Ifè, the cradle of the Yorùbá nation and veritable repository of its culture.