The Institute of Education, University of Ilorin, started as a Department of Continuing Education and Extension Services on March, 1, 1980.  The Department was later restructured and got autonomous status on March 1, 1981.  The Institute is primarily concerned with in-service and extra-mural programmes.  Over the years, however, the Institute has widened its scope to cover other service areas.  

The Institute of Education is charged with the responsibility of filling the long-felt need for “Town and Gown” to fuse and bring about mutual understanding and cooperation between the University and the Community it serves.  To fulfill this obligation, it takes active and contributory part in ensuring the generation and dissemination of relevant ideas and suggestions on issues affecting the growth and development of the Community. 

The Institute also engages in the production of professionally qualified and competent teachers for the nation.

By its statutory functions, the Institute is principally service-oriented in the areas of:

professional advice to the Ministries of Education and related parastatals;

interacting and working with State Government agencies, which are responsible for providing improved educational services at all levels;

providing consultancy services in the areas of educational management, development and research to both Federal and State Ministries of Education;

providing serving or intending teachers who cannot afford full-time courses opportunity for Sandwich/Part-time courses leading to B.A.(Ed.), B.Sc.(Ed.), and B.Ed. in Arts Education, Counsellor Education, Educational Management, Educational Technology, Human Kinetics Education, Health Promotion & Environmental Health Education, Science Education, Social Sciences Education, Business Education, Adult Education and Primary Education Studies;  Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE); Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Technology (PGDET); and M.Ed. in Arts Education, Science Education, Social Sciences Education, Educational Management, Guidance and Counselling, Educational Technology, Human Kinetics and Health Education;

working in close co-operation with the State wing of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) and Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) to mount short courses, Workshops and Conferences to improve the skills and competences of Basic (Pre-Primary, Primary and Junior Secondary) School Teachers; and working in collaboration with other State educational agencies such as the State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBS) and the Teaching Service Commission (TSC), as well as Primary and Secondary School Teachers.  The Institute tries to understand their problems and offers suggestions for solutions by way of researches and/or other educational services.

The community-based orientation of the Institute in its programmes and practices, and the responsiveness of the members of the Community had resulted in the concept of the “Institute of Education Day”, which is an annual event.  The Institute of Education Day has brought prominent members of the community in contact with the University dons; it has become a forum for sharing thoughtful reflections about prospects and problems of providing educational services to the members of the Community.