Wood Products Engineering programme of the University of Ibadan is the oldest programme of its kind in Nigeria and the Department is one of the two of such departments in existence in the university system in Nigeria as at today. Although the Department formally came into existence on March 13, 2017, the programme has been in existence since 1972, within the former ‘Institute of Applied Science and Technology’. The creation of the programme in 1972 as an option in the Department of Design and Production Engineering was borne out of the conviction that improved wood processing and utilisation have to be substantially supported by technological inputs in order to face the realities of a country blessed with abundant forest resources in general and wood products in particular. In 1980 the programme was re-named ‘Wood Products Engineering’ and moved to the Department of Agricultural Engineering as a Unit. In March 2017, the unit was granted the status of a full-fledged Department of Wood Products Engineering. In August 2018, Senate approved the request of the Department for a change of name to Wood and Biomaterials Engineering.

The Department of Wood Products Engineering is well related to practically every other Department in the Faculty. It maintains not only ‘walled laboratories’ but a ‘field laboratory’ in the form of the Teaching and Research Sawmill where it puts to test some of the classroom theories. The department's primary responsibility is to provide high quality educational opportunities necessary to adequately prepare students for professional and scientific careers in Wood Products Engineering.