The department of Petroleum Engineering at the University of Ibadan is the oldest in Nigeria. It was formally established in 1972 as one of the foundation departments of the Faculty of Technology and was well equipped by the Canadian Agency for International Development (CIDA) so that it could perform as a world class and frontline department in Petroleum engineering education and research.

The department has trained over one thousand (1,000) Petroleum Engineers for the Nigerian and global Petroleum Industry and a significant proportion of the Petroleum Engineering workforce in the Nigerian Petroleum Industry derived their initial professional training from Ibadan.

Vision:

To be a world-class focal point for high quality education, research and development in Petroleum Engineering

Mission:

· To expand the frontiers of knowledge in Petroleum Engineering through provision of excellent conditions for learning and research

· To produce graduates who are worthy in character and sound judgement

· To contribute to the transformation of society through creative and innovative use of petroleum and energy resources.

The B. Sc. Degree programme started in 1972, and the first set of 8 students graduated in 1975. Approval for higher degrees was obtained in 1978, but they (M.Sc., MPhil and Ph.D. programmes) did not come on stream until 1985, with the first set of M.Sc. students.

The activities of students and alumni of this department, local and in diaspora over the years, have showed that the programmes are internationally competitive and graduates of the department are some of the best anywhere in the world.