Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) sprawls across a large, leafy campus on the northwestern edge of the city. It is one of Nigeria's most prestigious universities and one of the pleasantest campuses in the country to walk through: tree-lined avenues, red-brick colonial-era buildings alongside modernist blocks, and a pace of life that is distinctly calmer than central Ife.
The university's natural history museum is open to visitors and contains a good collection of local specimens, geological samples from the Ife region, and some ethnographic material. The library is worth a look for its architecture. The campus market and student cafeterias are good places to eat cheaply and talk to people about the city. Bring your passport or ID, as security at the main gate requires identification from non-students.