Earlier today, Students of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, took to the streets in protest on Tuesday over the recent renaming of the institution to Victor Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic by Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde.
The decision, announced during a commendation service on June 26 in honour of the late former governor, has sparked discontent among students and alumni. Governor Makinde described the renaming as a tribute to Olunloyo, whom he hailed as a technocrat and the institution’s pioneer rector, recognizing his contributions to education and the state’s development.
However, students expressed dissatisfaction, arguing that the legacy and identity of The Polytechnic, Ibadan—one of Nigeria’s foremost tertiary institutions—should be preserved. By morning of July 1, protestors blocked the main gates of the campus and the major Sango–Eleyele Road, causing significant disruption to traffic and movement in the state capital.
The protesting students in their hundreds marched along sango to awolowo road enrout to the state government secretarial where the Secretariat gate was lock and both vehicular and human movement are blocked
The Oyo State Road Transport Management Agency (OYRTMA) has advised commuters to seek alternative routes as the protest continued to impact access to surrounding areas.
Victor Omololu Olunloyo, an Ibadan native, served briefly as governor of the old Oyo State between October and December 1983. He passed away earlier this year.
Though the deputy governor of the state Barr. Bayo Lawal came out to address the protesting students on behalf of the governor and promised to table their demands to governor makinde upon his arrival.
Similarly, various stakeholders of the institution and alumni has written different letters to the Oyo State governor Engr. Seyi Makinde registering their displeasure over the name change and appeal for the reversal. Saying the name of the school remains it’s pride globally
As of press time, the state government had yet to issue a formal response to the protest.
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