Students and alumni of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Oyo State, have vehemently rejected the decision by Governor Seyi Makinde to rename the institution after the late former Governor Omololu Olunloyo.
Governor Makinde, on Thursday, announced that the iconic institution would now bear the name of Olunloyo, who was notably the first rector of the polytechnic. The announcement sparked swift backlash across student and alumni communities.
In a statement released on Friday by the President of the Students Union Government (SUG), Oladipupo Olamide, the student body expressed deep disappointment and called the decision unjustifiable.
“We strongly believe that this decision is unjustifiable and disregards the rich heritage and history of our beloved school. For over 50 years, The Polytechnic, Ibadan has been a beacon of academic excellence, producing outstanding graduates who have made significant contributions to society,” Olamide stated.
He argued that changing the institution’s name would damage its well-established identity and legacy, which has earned nationwide respect.
“Renaming the institution would erase its identity and legacy, causing irreparable harm to its reputation and alumni.
We urge the governor to reconsider this decision and allow the school to retain its original name, which reflects its history, values, and mission.
We are open to dialogue and seek alternative means to honour the late governor without altering the institution’s name,” the statement added.
Echoing the students’ stance, members of the alumni association also expressed discontent. Yomi Akande, a prominent alumnus and chairman of the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) at the institution, criticized the decision, describing it as unpopular and unnecessary.
“As an alumnus of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, the name holds global recognition. While we acknowledge and respect the legacy of the late Governor Olunloyo, the renaming does not translate to development for the institution. The focus should be on improving infrastructure and academic resources,” Akande said.
Calls are growing louder for Governor Makinde to reverse the decision and engage stakeholders in discussions before taking any further steps.
Source: Punch
