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)