About the department

The department became a full-fledged department in the 1976/77 session. after some periods as a department of philosophy and religious studies. the department developed into a full-fledge department as a result of the need to focus on more critical and philosophical issues. the founding professor of the department was late Professor J.O. Sodipo who later rose to become the first vice chancellor of former Ogun State university, Ago-Iwoye(now olabis Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye). The late Professor Olubi Sodipo was then the first and the only Nigerian Professor of Philosophy.

The department was one of the earliest departments of philosophy in West Africa.

Department achievement

The department has made its mark in the area of African Philosophy. what is presently discussed as African Philosphy is an offshoot of what started in hte department as a philosophical discussion of African traditional thoughts. this discussion formed the focus of the earlier issues of Second Order. The journal was published in the department and had a global circulation.

The department once hosted eminent philosophers/scholars like Professors G.C.Chatallian, Barry Hallen, J.T. Bedu-Addo, Geoffrey Hunt among others. Many of these scholars drew inspirations from this department and the environment that has flowered into researches and books of worldwide acclaim.

The department, since its inception, has produc ed hundreds of graduates presently occupying different positions of authority both locally and internationally

AIMS OF THE DEPARTMENT

In any human society, the challenges posed to human beings by their need to understand their nature, that of the multifarious groups and structures within which they live and of their social relations, individual and group identities are enormous challenges. By developing the verbal, analytical and critical skills of its practitioners, Philosophy contributes to the exploration and understanding of the nature of reality, the meaning of life, social structure and development, knowledge and values, and the governing principles of the universe, human evolution and history.

It is the objective of the Department to develop, through the subject matter and methods of Philosophy, the students’ critical and analytical skills, cultivate their ability to isolate and examine the principles and issues involved both in complex theoretical situations and in concrete, actual problems, and widen their intellectual perspectives within the context of a humanistic educational experience. While paying due and proper attention to the significant philosophical insights of the past, the Department encourages students’ actual involvement with problems and issues peculiar to the field of Philosophy rather than the more traditional historical approach of presenting to students a plethora of names and unconnected, conflicting ideas and theories. Also, while subscribing to the ‘universality’ of Philosophy, the Department will pay special attention to the fostering of the general
African, and the specifically Nigerian, cultural roots and dimensions of the discipline.

The expectation is that this special attention will enhance the rapid growth of Philosophy and particularly of African Philosophy both in Nigeria and on the African continent.