The Academic Planning Unit (APU) started in 1969 as a Statistics Unit within the Records Office which then had three main functions: (i) Filing of staff (academic and non-teaching) records and student’ information and transcripts; (ii) Data gathering and analyzing of staff and student’s information/statistics and (iii) Administrative functions. These functions were administered by different individuals in the Statistics Unit.

The Planning Office as later constituted was first headed by Mr. Swanson who was appointed the first Chief Planning Officer in 1974 because there was a need to have a permanent staff to handle student’s statistics. His tenure lasted seven (7) years (1974 to 1981). Mr. Swanson was succeeded by Dr. Bode Adeyemi later in 1981, and thus became the first Director of the Planning Unit as it was then known. His tenure spanned fourteen (14) years (1981 to 1995). Dr Adeyemi was succeeded by Mr. Olagbemi Osasona who became the Director of the Planning Unit for a period of twelve (12) years (1996 to 2008). At the creation of the Directorate of the Physical Planning in 2009, the Planning Unit was changed to Academic Planning Unit. Dr. A. O. Ojelabi took over from Mr. Osasona from 2009 thus becoming the first Director of the Academic Planning Unit for a period of six (6) years and two months (2009 to February 2016).

The immediate past Director of Academic Planning, Professor V. O. Okoruwa took over from Dr Ojelabi on 1 March, 2016, as the first Academic Staff Director of the APU. His tenure spanned 8 years and a few days ending on 31 March, 2024. Prof V. O. Okoruwa was succeeded by Professor A. E. Ayodele on 1 April, 2024. The APU has grown over the years in leaps and bounds to become a veritable and formidable Unit under the Vice-Chancellor’s Office by ensuring the successful establishment of new academic programmes, academic units (such as Departments and Faculties) and academic Institutes/Centers, as well as in the smooth running of existing academic programmes in line with the regulations of the National Universities Commission (NUC) which serves as the regulatory body of all tertiary academic institutions in Nigeria as enshrined in the Laws of Nigeria.