The University of Ilorin, established in 1975 and one of the first generation of federal universities created after Nigeria's civil war, is a significant presence in the city. The campus is large and relatively green for the region, spread across a substantial area southwest of the city centre. It has consistently ranked among Nigeria's top universities.
The university gives Ilorin a substantial student population and some of the liveliness that comes with it — there are more cafes, bookshops, and places to eat around the campus than you might expect in a city of this type. The campus itself is open and can be walked; the central library and administrative buildings are notable structures.