The Institute of Education was established during the 1985/86 Session with Professor P. N. Lassa as the first Director. From inception it assumed responsibility for the National Certificate of Education (N.C.E.) programmes in Colleges of Education affiliated to the University, namely Federal College of Education, Pankshin, College of Education Akwanga, College of Education Katsina-Ala and College of Education Oju, the last two being in Benue State. On inception too, it immediately developed its two N.C.E. programmes and the Diploma in Primary Education Administration and supervision, the Postgraduate Diploma in Technical Education and the Associateship Certificate in Education. The Institute also organized on a yearly basis an intensive long vacation French programme for students of Colleges of Education in Lieu of the semester abroad programme. All this was in addition to responsibility for the Postgraduate Diploma in Education. It also regularly organized workshops on teaching strategies and educational management in addition to serving as university representative on the Joint Consultative Committee on Education (J.C.C.E.) as statutorily required.

Following Institute’s inability to generate enough funds to make itself funding, it was directed to fold up and all staff were deployed to the Faculty of Education in 1993. In 1994 the Institute was reactivated ‘’ under the auspices of the Faculty of Education ‘’ and given administrative responsibility for the B.Ed. Part-time programme. It also resumed its responsibility for the PGDE programme, in addition to resuscitating its journal- the Journal of Educational Studies.

The aims of the institute of Education are:

To act in an advisory and consultative capacity to the ministries charged with responsibility for education in the university`s catchments states. 

·   To conduct and promote research and to act as a coordinating agency for research in all matters pertaining to education and the development of education in Nigeria

To promote the training of teachers and other persons engaged in education work;

To provide or coordinate short courses, seminars, workshops, conferences for personnel in the education sector;

 To promote, develop, coordinate or be involved in curriculum development for primary and secondary schools;

To participate (where necessary) in the teaching functions of the university at undergraduate and graduate levels;

To undertake any other activities designed to contribute to the Community Service function of the university.