It was founded in 2007 as the first part of a pan-African university system concept developed by the Nelson Mandela Institution.

The university offers postgraduate programs in five major disciplinary areas: Computer Science and Management of Information Technology, Material Science and Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, Pure, Applied Mathematics, and Space & Aerospace Sciences, and also a master's degree in Public Administration and Public Policy.

The university was founded in 2007 as the first campus of the pan-African Nelson Mandela Institution.

[4] Winston Wole Soboyejo was president and provost from January 2012 to August 2014.

[5] As of December 2022[update], Azikiwe Peter Onwualu is acting president.