The following are centres of excellence at OAU working in several fields of research:
- A.G. Leventis Natural History Museum (NHM)
- African Institute for Science Policy and Innovation (AISPI)
- Atmospheric Research And Information Analysis Lab (ARIAL)
- Centre for Energy Research and Development (CERD)
- Center for Gender Studies (CGS)
- Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Africa (ARCSSTE)
- Aviation Training Institute
- Central Science Laboratory (CSL)
- Centre for Space Research (CSR)
- Cooperative Information Network (COPINE / CICTED)
- Drug Research & Production Unit (DRPU)
- Institute for Entrepreneurship and Development Studies (IFEDS)
- National Centre for Technology Management (NACETEM)
- Institute of Cultural Studies
- Institute of Public Health (IPH, OAU)
- Institute of Ecology and Environmental Studies (IEES)
- Population and Reproductive Health Programme/OAUIFE-GATES Institute JHU Partnership Project
- Regional Centre for Training in Aerospace Surveys (RECTAS)
- Space Applications And Environmental Science Laboratory (SPAEL)