On 14 January 1981, Chief Adekunle Ajasin led by the civilian government of the Ondo State, announced its intent to establish a multi-campus university in the state and a 16-member planning committee was set up. The outcome of the exercise led to the founding of the university in March 1982, when the state government created a university named Obafemi Awolowo University, Ado-Ekiti and appointed Prof. I.O. Oladapo as the first vice-chancellor with the composition of the first council headed by Chief B.A. Ajayi on 28 March 1982.