Dominican University, located at Samonda in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, is set to hold its 7th matriculation ceremony on Friday, January 26, 2024. The event will take place at the Tom and Carolyn Walker Hall of Dominican University at 10:00 am, as the university confirms its 7th set of students for the 2023/2024 academic session.

The establishment of Dominican University traces back to a meeting of African Dominican friars in Ibadan, where they formed the Inter-African Order of Preachers (IAOP) under the leadership of Vincent de Couesnongle, the Master of the Order of Preachers at the time. The IAOP decided to establish the Dominican Institute in Ibadan as a center for philosophical studies for Dominicans in Africa. Father Professor Joseph Kenny,OP was appointed as the institute's pioneer Director.

In 1993, the Dominican Institute became an affiliate school of the University of Ibadan, offering a bachelor's degree in Philosophy. As the Institute aimed to become a future university, it opened its doors to students from all backgrounds, not just Dominicans. The Institute also offered a Bachelor of Theology degree as an affiliate of the University of St. Thomas (Angelicum) in Rome, and a Master of Arts degree in Theology as an affiliate of Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Many of its graduates now work as lecturers in universities within and outside Nigeria.

In 2006, the Dominican Order in Nigeria applied for a university license to transform the Dominican Institute into the Dominican University. On November 2, 2016, the federal government of Nigeria approved a provisional license for the university, with the official license granted on November 22, 2016. This marked the birth of the first university of the Order of Preachers on the African continent.

The Dominican Institute has been running a fully accredited Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy degree program for over two decades, as well as a Bachelor of Theology degree program accredited by the Vatican Congregation for Catholic Education. Its track record, excellent facilities, experienced faculty, and the Dominican Order's long history in tertiary education have contributed to the Dominican University's emergence as a strong institution.

On August 22, 2017, the Board of Trustees of the Dominican University appointed Father Professor Anthony Akinwale,OP as the pioneer Vice Chancellor. With a background in Systematic Theology and Thomistic Studies, Professor Akinwale had previously served as President of the Dominican Institute and played a crucial role in the planning and implementation of the Dominican University.

The Dominican University welcomed its pioneer students with an inaugural Mass on October 2, 2017. On June 10, 2020, the National Universities Commission confirmed that the university had successfully passed its probationary stage and awarded it a full statutory license.

Currently, the university is under the leadership of Rev. Fr. Prof. Dokun Oyeshola, OP, who is serving as the acting Vice Chancellor. With the university positioned for excellence, Rev. Fr. Prof. Dokun Oyeshola is ready to fulfill the institution's vision and mission as they complete the admission of their 7th set of students for the 2023/2024 academic session.