Students of The Polytechnic Ibadan, on Tuesday, staged a protest at the Oyo State Government Secretariat, rejecting the renaming of the institution after former governor and mathematician, Omololu Olunloyo.
The protesting students, armed with placards bearing various inscriptions, appealed to Governor Seyi Makinde to reverse his decision and restore the polytechnic’s original name.
They insisted that the institution’s identity and legacy should not be altered, stressing that The Polytechnic Ibadan has gained national and international recognition under its current name.
Leading the protest, President of the Students’ Union Government, Olamide Oladipupo, described the renaming as an unpopular decision that does not sit well with students and alumni.
“We respect Baba Olunloyo for his contributions, but changing the name of this polytechnic is unacceptable. This school has built its name for decades, and we are saying Governor Makinde should rescind this decision,” Oladipupo said.
Addressing the protesters, the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Security, Sunday Odukoya, urged the students to remain calm, assuring them that their concerns would be relayed to the governor.
It will be recalled that during the funeral of the late Olunloyo on Thursday, June 26, 2025, at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium in Ibadan, Makinde announced the renaming of the polytechnic to Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan, describing the deceased as a scholar, statesman and pioneer principal of the institution.
“Today, we will be giving Baba another honour to immortalise him. He was the first Principal of The Polytechnic, Ibadan; that institution will now be named Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan,” Makinde had declared.
Olunloyo, who governed Oyo State briefly in 1983, died on April 6, 2025, at the age of 89.
The renaming of public institutions after prominent figures has generated mixed reactions across the country, with similar opposition seen in recent cases like the proposed Yakubu Gowon University in Abuja and Moshood Abiola University in Lagos.
