The Department of Religious Studies was founded in 1983 as a Unit in the Department of Religious Studies and Philosophy.  Students had the options of having either single honour degrees in the two Units or combined honours.  The first Coordinator of the Department was Rev. Gabriel Oyedele Abe (now Professor).  In 1986, the two Units in the Department (Religious Studies and Philosophy) gained independent status with Rev. G.O. Abe and Mr. M.A. Kissi in charge of the Departments respectively.

The Department began by offering undergraduate degree in Religious Studies alone and later in four programmes including, Religious Studies, Christian Religious Studies, Arabic and Islamic Studies and African Traditional Religion.  At present, there three major programmes in the Department. They are:  B.A Christian Religious Studies, B.A Arabic Studies and B. A Islamic Studies. The Department also runs undergraduates Diploma programme in Religious Studies as well as postgraduate programmes.  It also publishes an annual peer-review Journal called, Ado Journal of Religions.

The past Heads of Department include:

The Objectives of the Department       

The Department aims at the following objectives:

1. to unearth positive commonalities among the religions in Nigeria while respecting the distinctiveness of each of the religions;
2. to offer world-class, non-sectarian religious learning and leadership;
3. to educate citizens for leadership and service in line with the motto of the University-KNOWLEDGE, HONOUR AND SERVICE;
4. to be in the service of building a Nigeria where citizens can live and work together across religious and ethnic divides;
5. to pursue intellectual rigour and openness of quality academic work in the study of major religions in Nigeria;
6.  to prepare the students as high-level workers in the various sectors of public administration, education and economy.

Mission statement of the Department

The Department of Religious Studies engages its students in the rigorous academic and non- sectarian study of religion, fostering learned understanding and critical  knowledge of religion in the University and the public square. The study of religion is non- reductive, multi- methodological, and indispensable to any adequate understanding of our complex globalizing and intersectional world.

Our Philosophy

The Department of Religious Studies is aware and very sensitive to the role of religion in Nigeria and in the world. Religion in Nigeria, in particular, has been a major factor shaping the lives of individuals and affecting the stability of the country. The Department is committed to having respect for and critical engagement with different religious traditions. Hence, its philosophy is to educate students of Christian Religious Studies in particular, but also people of different religions and even people of no religion in Nigeria to know how to live together peacefully and prosper in a multi-religious country and world.

The Department prepares its students for employment as well-bred academic capable of working as administrators, teachers, religious leaders, law enforcement agents, self-employed businessmen and women and in financial houses. The approach to the academic programme in the Department relates to all aspects of life to prepare students for future challenges.