Students of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, on Tuesday staged a massive protest against Governor Seyi Makinde’s decision to rename the institution after the late former governor, Omololu Olunloyo, sparking widespread disruption across the campus and beyond
The demonstration caused academic activities to grind to a halt, with both the North and South campus gates shut.
Commuters along the adjacent Sango–Eleyele Road were stranded for hours as students blocked access in a show of solidarity with their SUG leadership
Chanting slogans like “Revert the name now”, and carrying banners that read “Our identity, our pride”, the protesters circled the Oyo State Government Secretariat, urging the governor to reverse the renaming
Student Union President Olamide Oladipupo clarified that the protest was peaceful and intended to preserve their institution’s legacy, saying, “We are not against honouring leaders, but not at the expense of our institution’s heritage”
Responding on behalf of the governor, Deputy Governor Bayo Lawal appealed for calm. He assured the students that their concerns would be formally relayed to the governor upon his return.
Alumni and staff remain divided, with some supporting the renaming, while many others believe it erodes over 50 years of institutional reputation raising questions about stakeholder engagement before making such decisions
