Background History of the College:

The Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin, which has as its motto: “EDUCATION FOR EXCELLENCE” was established in September, 1974. It was then christened School of Education, and administered by the Kwara State College of Technology, Ilorin. The School started with only thirteen academic staff.

Some of the staff of the School of Basic Studies of the College were drawn to teach the academic subject contents, while those of the School of Education taught other pedagogical aspects of the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) courses. Such a method of training NCE teachers later proved unsatisfactory. Consequently, the school was later changed to Advanced Teachers’ College, in order to reflect the true purpose for which it was established. It was also given an advisory body. By 1976, the College was completely detached from its parent body, Kwara State College of Technology, Ilorin, with its own Edict and Governing Council. In 1978, its name was changed to Kwara State College of Education to be sited in Oro, and its Edict was accordingly amended. It was also affiliated to the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, for the purpose of moderation of Examinations and Certification.

The College was later moved to a temporary site along Ilorin–Lagos Road where it occupied the former Federal Government College premises pending the time its permanent structures would be erected as its permanent site in Oro. However, the then Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Adamu Attah declared, in his Convocation address to the College in 1980, that the College would remain in Ilorin, while another one was to be established in Oro. It was that year that the College was reaffiliated to the University of Ilorin.