Ambrose Alli University was founded as Bendel State University in 1981. It then became Edo State University in 1992 and took its current name in honour of its founder, the state governor of Bendel.
The university was established with eight colleges and there are now 14 faculties at the university including agriculture, arts, communication sciences, education, engineering and technology, environmental studies, law, life sciences, management sciences, medical laboratory sciences, physical sciences, social sciences, medicine, basic medical sciences and clinical science.
Among the newer buildings on campus is the complex created for the faculty of life sciences in 2018.
