It was established in April 1963 as the Advanced Teachers' Training College by the defunct Eastern Nigeria Government on the grounds of the Old Shell Camp in Owerri.
The university is headed by Dr. (Mrs.) Stella Ngozi Lemchi, the Acting Vice-Chancellor (Administration), who was the former Provost of the college.
[5] It was charged with the responsibility of training teachers in line with the Ashby report on Higher Education in Nigeria.
In 1976, a campus of the college catering to the Department of Agriculture was established in Umuahia, now the capital of Abia State.
[7] The Federal Government take-over brought improved financial aid, and the college has become able to renovate old structures, build large classrooms, laboratories and hostels and expanded the staff strength.
In October 2023, the college was finally upgraded to a University of Education by the Bola Tinubu government.
In 1984, the college became affiliated with the University of Nigeria, Nsukka to award the bachelor's degree in various subject areas.