Students of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Oyo State, on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, took to the streets in large numbers to protest the state government’s recent decision to rename the institution in honour of the late former governor, Dr. Omololu Olunloyo, who passed away earlier this year at the age of 89.

The protest, which grounded both academic and commercial activities within the school environment and across key roads in Ibadan, saw hundreds of students block the two main entrance gates to the institution, as well as major routes linking Sango, Eleyele, Mokola, and Agodi. The students chanted solidarity songs and held placards, creating a tense but orderly atmosphere as they pressed home their demands.

The protest was sparked by the announcement made by Governor Seyi Makinde, who had recently renamed the 50-year-old institution to “Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan,” in recognition of the late statesman’s contributions to the state. Dr. Olunloyo was the first indigene of Ibadan to serve as governor of the old Oyo State and is widely regarded as one of the state’s foremost intellectual and political icons.

However, the students believe the name change erases the school’s rich history, diminishes its brand recognition, and was implemented without due consultation with key stakeholders including students, alumni, and staff.

The protesters, led by the institution’s Students’ Union, marched from the campus to the Oyo State Government Secretariat at Agodi, carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Revert The Name Now,” “We Are Not Consulted,” and “Our Identity, Our Pride.”

Speaking during the protest, the Students’ Union President, Olamide Oladipupo, told journalists that the demonstration was not an act of rebellion but a peaceful expression of concern and an appeal for reconsideration.

“We are not against honouring our heroes,” Oladipupo said. “But not at the cost of stripping an institution of its legacy and global identity. The Polytechnic, Ibadan, has stood tall for over five decades and is recognized internationally. Alumni across the globe identify with this name. Changing it without stakeholder engagement is unfair and disrespectful to that heritage.”

He added that students were open to dialogue and not hostile to the government’s intentions.

“This is not a protest born out of hatred or political sentiment. We are here to express our collective grief. The governor can name a new project, a stadium, or a structure after the late governor. But this institution should retain its name. We want the name to remain The Polytechnic, Ibadan.”

Oladipupo also emphasized that the students’ action was peaceful and non-political.

“We have not insulted the governor. We are only saying, ‘Let us be heard.’ There is no shame in dialogue.”

As the protest intensified at the Government Secretariat, the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Chief Bayo Lawal, came out to address the crowd on behalf of Governor Makinde, who was reportedly unavailable at the time.

He urged the students to remain calm and assured them that their demands would be conveyed to the governor.

“I plead with you in the name of peace to calm down. I have heard your demands. You have made your position clear and it is commendable that you are doing so peacefully. On behalf of the Governor of Oyo State, I assure you that your concerns will be tabled before him as soon as he returns,” Lawal said.

The protest has since drawn widespread attention, with alumni and civil society groups expressing solidarity with the students and calling for broader dialogue before final decisions are made on the renaming.

As of press time, there was no official statement from the state government regarding whether the name change would be reconsidered. Meanwhile, academic activities at the institution remain suspended, and security operatives have been deployed to ensure law and order.

The Polytechnic, Ibadan, founded in 1970, is one of Nigeria’s premier tertiary institutions and has produced generations of graduates in engineering, science, technology, and the arts. The legacy of its name, stakeholders say, is deeply rooted in Nigeria’s academic and social development history.

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