History

The Unilorin Sugar Research Institute was established by the Council of the University of Ilorin in 14th January, 1980. It is the only Institute of its kind in Nigeria and indeed in the West African sub-region. Its sole mandate is to conduct research on sugarcane production and processing. The idea for the establishment of the Institute emanated from the deliberations of a workshop organized by the Faculty of Science of the University of Ilorin in June, 1978 on “Scientific Research and Nigerian Industries”. At the end of the workshop, which drew participants from other Universities, the Industrial Training Fund, Federal and State Ministries, Industrial establishment and private organizations, it was resolved that the Faculty should explore the possibility of establishing a Sugar Research Institute. The first set of academic staff in the Institute assumed duty in August, 1980.

Past Directors of USRI

S/N	NAME		TENURE
1	Prof. M.O. Olofinbola	Acting Director	June – July, 1980
		Director	January, 1981- September, 1982
			October, 1983- January, 1984
2	Prof. M.O. Fawole	Acting Director	July – December, 1980
3	Prof. R. O. Fadayomi	Acting Director	October, 1982- September, 1983
			January, 1984- September, 1987
		Director	November, 1994 – July, 1997
			September, 2004- April, 2011
4	Prof. J. A. Olofintoye	Acting Director	August, 1997 – August, 1999
		Director	August, 1999 – August, 2002
5	Prof. G. Oloaye	Acting Director	August, 2011 – August, 2012
6	Prof. Y. A. Abayomi	Director	August, 2012- July, 2014
7	Prof. O. S. Balogun	Director	August, 2014- November, 2017
8	Dr. F.O. Takim	Acting Director	November, 2017 – July, 2021
9	Prof. G. B. Adesiji	Director	July, 2021 – July, 2024