By Ali Elias
Despite student protests, the Oyo State Government has reiterated its decision to rename The Polytechnic Ibadan after the late former governor, Dr. Victor Omololu Olunloyo. The state Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, made this clear on Wednesday during an interview on Channels Television.
“We stand by that decision because it is a worthy decision for a worthy son of your state,” Oyelade said, describing the protests as ‘miscarried and misplaced’.
The move to rename the institution as Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan, was announced by Governor Seyi Makinde during the funeral of the late scholar on June 26, 2025. Makinde said the renaming was in recognition of Olunloyo’s service as the polytechnic’s pioneer principal and his short but significant tenure as governor of the state.
“He was the first Principal of The Polytechnic, Ibadan; that institution will now be named Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan,” Makinde had said.
Olunloyo, a renowned mathematician and public servant, died on April 6, 2025. In addition to his academic legacy, he served briefly as governor of Oyo State between October and December 1983.
Student Backlash Over Name Change
The announcement triggered strong opposition from students of the polytechnic, who staged a protest at the Oyo State Government Secretariat on Tuesday. Carrying placards and chanting slogans, they urged the governor to reverse the decision and retain the original name of the institution.
President of the Students Union Government (SUG), Olamide Oladipupo, argued that the name ‘The Polytechnic, Ibadan’ carried historical weight and international recognition.
“We appeal to Governor Makinde to preserve the polytechnic’s legacy embedded in the name it bears across the world,” Oladipupo said.
In response, the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Security, Sunday Odukoya, addressed the students and appealed for calm, promising that their concerns would be conveyed to the appropriate authorities.
Government Stands Firm Amid National Debate
Oyelade emphasized that the state government respects its students but would not reverse its decision in this instance. “We will be fair, and we will be tough. This time around, we are sticking by our decision,” he said.
The renaming of public educational institutions has become a growing national trend, though often controversial. Similar moves, such as attempts to rename the University of Lagos as Moshood Abiola University and the University of Abuja as Yakubu Gowon University, were met with strong opposition from students and alumni, eventually leading to reversals or policy reviews.
For now, the Oyo State Government appears resolute in honouring Olunloyo, whom it describes as a scholar, technocrat, and patriot who deserves permanent recognition.