The Imo State University (IMSU) in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria was established in 1981 through law No. 4 passed by the Imo State House of Assembly.^[1] The university admitted the first intake of 392 pioneer students on 23 October 1981.^[2]

After the creation of Abia State in 1991, the Uturu campus of the university became the Abia State University.^[3]

Imo State University is a fully functional university. Most of the programs of the university have obtained full accreditation from National Universities Commission (NUC) of Nigeria.^[4][5]

The result of the 1999/2000 accreditation exercise of the National Universities Commission (NUC) confirmed the high rate and acceptance of the university by the Nigerian public. The university was ranked first among all state universities in Nigeria and the 10th overall among both state and federal universities.^[6] Imo state indigenes in Imo State University were granted free education during the tenure of the then Governor Rochas Okorocha but the programme stopped in 2016. This was announced by the Acting Vice Chancellor of IMSU, Professor Adaobi Obasi through the Registrar, Professor Emeka Ejinkonye, who stated that the students of Imo origin would henceforth pay a token for certain services in the school.^[7]

Imo State University at Owerri was temporary accommodated within the campus of Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education from May to December 1992.^[8] The university later moved to its own premises of four building within the Federal University of Technology Owerri, at the Lake Nwaebere Campus. At the translocation of the Federal University to the permanent site, Ihiagwa near Owerri, the Lake Nwaebere Campus of that university was then acquired for Imo State University. The first batch of students was allocated to the Imo State University by JAMB in February 1993. The National Universities Commission also formally approved the re-establishment of the university in 1992 at the Lake Nwaebere Campus.^[8] Today, Imo State University has many Faculties and Departments that graduate students every year. The university produces First Class, Second Class and Third Class graduates. These students are absorbed into the labour force after going through one your National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). The best graduated students are usually given award and automatic employment in the university.^[9]

Consequently, the government of Chief Evan Enwerem, in April 1991 did not waste time in filling the vacuum by re-establishing the university in Owerri. Two options were considered by the government in the re-establishment of Imo State University at Owerri. The first option was to move at once, all staff and students at the various stages of their programmes in Uturu who want to remain in Imo State University, now in Owerri. The second option was to rebuild the University at Owerri over specified period of time. The second option was adopted after various constitutions by government then, and a target period of five years within which to complete re-establishment of the University at Owerri was considered. Professor T. O. C. Ndubizu, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Nigeria, Nsukka was then appointed the Vice-Chancellor with the responsibility of relocating and re-establishing Imo State University.^[10]