# University of Lagos

> public research university in Lagos, Nigeria

**Wikidata**: [Q1782980](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1782980)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Lagos)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/university-of-lagos

## Summary  
The University of Lagos (often called **Unilag**) is a public research university located in Lagos, Nigeria. Established in **1962**, it offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs and is known for its motto *“In deed and in truth.”*  

## Key Facts  
- **Founded:** 1962 【inception】  
- **Location:** Lagos, Nigeria (coordinates 6.51666667 N, 3.38611111 E)【located_in】【coordinates】  
- **Official website:** <http://www.unilag.edu.ng/> (primary English‑language site)【website】  
- **Motto:** “In deed and in truth”【motto_text】  
- **Nickname:** Akokites【nickname】  
- **Official colors:** Gold and Maroon【official_color】  
- **Member of:** Association of Commonwealth Universities; Agence universitaire de la Francophonie; Association of African Universities; African Research Universities Alliance【member_of】  
- **Twitter handle:** @unilagnigeria (≈ 48 k followers in 2023)【twitter】【social_media_followers】  
- **Sporting focus:** Gymnastics【sport】  
- **Identifiers:** ISNI 0000000418031817; GND 1030597‑X; ROR 05rk03822; GRID grid.411782.9【isni】【gnd_id】【ror_id】【grid_id】  

## FAQs  
### Q: When was the University of Lagos founded?  
**A:** It was inaugurated in **1962** as a public research university in Lagos, Nigeria.  

### Q: Where is the University of Lagos located?  
**A:** The main campus sits in **Lagos**, Nigeria, at latitude 6.5167 N and longitude 3.3861 E.  

### Q: What is the university’s motto?  
**A:** The motto is **“In deed and in truth.”**  

### Q: What are the official colors of Unilag?  
**A:** The university’s colors are **gold** and **maroon**.  

### Q: Does the University of Lagos have a social‑media presence?  
**A:** Yes, its official Twitter account is **@unilagnigeria**, with tens of thousands of followers.  

## Why It Matters  
The University of Lagos is one of Nigeria’s premier higher‑education institutions, serving as a hub for research, professional training, and cultural development in West Africa. By offering programs across medicine, engineering, humanities, and the sciences, it supplies a skilled workforce that fuels the nation’s economic growth and public‑service sectors. Its affiliation with regional and global academic networks—such as the Association of Commonwealth Universities and the African Research Universities Alliance—facilitates collaborative research, student exchange, and policy influence across the continent. Moreover, Unilag’s alumni and faculty have contributed to Nigeria’s technological and artistic landscapes, exemplified by notable figures in computer science, engineering, and the visual arts. The university’s public‑research mandate, combined with its vibrant campus life (e.g., gymnastics teams and the “Akokites” community), makes it a critical engine for innovation, social mobility, and national identity.  

## Notable For  
- **Pioneering research** in medicine and engineering within Nigeria’s public university system.  
- **Strong affiliations** with multiple international academic consortia, enhancing global collaboration.  
- **Cultural impact**, producing celebrated artists such as painter Stephanie Unaeze and influential technologists like Babatunde Adetokunbo Sofoluwe.  
- **Distinct branding** through its gold‑and‑maroon colors and the “Akokites” nickname.  
- **Active social‑media outreach**, maintaining a prominent Twitter presence for community engagement.  

## Body  

### History  
- Established in **1962** as a public research university.  
- Named after **Lagos State**, reflecting its regional significance.  

### Campus & Facilities  
- Main campus located in **Lagos**, Nigeria (6.5167 N, 3.3861 E).  
- Offers facilities for **gymnastics** and other sports.  

### Academics  
- Classified as an **instance of university** offering undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.  
- Operates under the **English language** of instruction.  

### Governance & Affiliations  
- Member of **Association of Commonwealth Universities**, **Agence universitaire de la Francophonie**, **Association of African Universities**, and **African Research Universities Alliance**.  
- Affiliated with the **Association of African Universities** (per “affiliation” property).  

### Notable People (Affiliated)  
- **Stephanie Unaeze** – Nigerian self‑taught painter and mixed‑media artist.  
- **Babatunde Adetokunbo Sofoluwe** – Computer scientist and university teacher.  
- **Demola Aladekomo** – Computer scientist and engineer.  
- **Unoma Ndili Okorafor** – Computer scientist and entrepreneur.  

### Identity & Branding  
- **Nickname:** Akokites.  
- **Motto:** “In deed and in truth.”  
- **Colors:** Gold and Maroon.  

### Digital Presence  
- Official website: <http://www.unilag.edu.ng/> (primary English portal).  
- Secondary domain: <http://www.unilag.edu/> (archived).  
- Twitter: **@unilagnigeria** (≈ 48 k followers in 2023).  

### Identifiers & Cataloguing  
- **ISNI:** 0000000418031817.  
- **GND:** 1030597‑X.  
- **ROR:** 05rk03822.  
- **GRID:** grid.411782.9.  
- **Viaf:** 140380391.  

## Schema Markup  
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "CollegeOrUniversity",
  "name": "University of Lagos",
  "description": "Public research university in Lagos, Nigeria, founded in 1962.",
  "url": "http://www.unilag.edu.ng/",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Lagos"
  ],
  "additionalType": "University"
}

## References

1. GeoNames
2. [Source](http://www.unilag.edu.ng)
3. GRID Release 2017-01-10
4. Virtual International Authority File
5. [Source](https://www.4icu.org/reviews/7249.htm)
6. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20221123144401/https://www.auf.org/les_membres/nos-membres/)
7. [Source](https://www.aau.org/subs/membership/)
8. [Source](https://arua.org/member-universities/)
9. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
10. [Source](https://unilag.edu.ng/)
11. [Source](https://www.unirank.org/ng/uni/university-of-lagos/)
12. [Source](http://www.unilag.edu.ng/)
13. [Source](http://km.aifb.kit.edu/services/crunchbase/)
14. GRID Release 2015-12-14
15. GRID Release 2016-12-06
16. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
17. Microsoft Academic Knowledge Graph
18. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
19. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)