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About

A serious place to learn software engineering

The Department of Software Engineering at Obafemi Awolowo University trains engineers who can reason about complex systems and build software the world can rely on.

Our history

Founded as part of OAU’s long tradition of engineering excellence, the Department of Software Engineering was established to address the growing need for engineers who approach software with the same rigour as bridges, circuits, or aircraft. We have graduated cohorts who now work across Nigeria’s tech industry, in academia, and at top international companies and research labs.

Vision & mission

Vision

To be West Africa’s leading academic centre for software engineering — producing graduates and research the global community recognises and depends on.

Mission

To educate, research, and serve at the intersection of computer science theory and engineering practice — in partnership with industry, government, and the global academy.

Strategic goals

  1. Maintain accreditation with NUC and COREN standards.
  2. Grow funded research output across our priority labs by 2030.
  3. Expand industry partnerships into formal capstone sponsorships.
  4. Strengthen alumni networks to support student internships and placements globally.
  5. Increase the proportion of women and under-represented groups in graduating cohorts.

Our values

Rigour

We expect our students to reason from first principles. Every system has constraints; an engineer's job is to understand them.

Integrity

From research to coursework, we hold ourselves to the standards of the international academic community.

Service

Software changes how Nigeria works. We build people who feel that responsibility, not just talented technicians.

Curiosity

We reward students and faculty who ask the harder question — even when an easier one would do.

Facilities

ACE Software Engineering Complex

Home of the Department's research labs and postgraduate bays at the African Centre of Excellence — purpose-built modern blocks with collaborative workrooms and shared GPU access.

ICT Centre & Communications

The university's communications hub anchored by its iconic telecoms towers, hosting networking, cloud, and data-science research with dedicated server rooms.

Faculty Classroom Block

Classrooms, smartboard-equipped lecture rooms, and the long teaching shed used for first- and second-year practicals — the heart of undergraduate teaching.

Main Conference Hall

Auditorium-class venue used for capstone showcases, hackathon finals, partner days, and international research dissemination events.