The parent department, Human Kinetics and Health Education, started with a certificate and diploma programmes in October, 1980 and on Tuesday 30th July, 2013, the Department of Health Promotion and Environmental Health Education was carved out from the parent department. The pioneer acting Head of Department was Dr. O. A. Onifade (2013-2014), followed by Dr. R. A. Shehu (2014-2016), Prof. O. L. Olaitan (2016-2019), Prof. A. A. Sanusi (2019-2022) and the current Head of Department is Prof. S. O. Oniyangi (2022 to date)
The Department of Health Promotion and Environmental Health Education consists of members with expertise in various fields such as Sexuality education, Emergency care and First Aid, Drug education, Community health, Environmental and Safety Education, Health education and Human nutrition. Their skills are applied in a wide range in addressing issues in Health promotion and Health education. The Department administers a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Education and other degrees for the postgraduate programme. The department is also fully involved in the teaching of sub-degrees, degrees and postgraduate degree programmes for the Institute of Education in University of Ilorin. The faculty in the department are graduates of relevant fields in Health education as well as different fields such as PGDE, M.Ed., M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees. The mission and vision of the University is a top priority of the department as they do not take teaching, learning, research and community services for granted.