The Oyo State Government has reiterated its decision to rename The Polytechnic, Ibadan after the late former governor, Dr. Omololu Olunloyo, despite opposition from students.
Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s Good Morning Brief on Wednesday, the Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, defended the move, describing it as a fitting tribute to a distinguished son of the state.
This comes a day after students staged protests, urging Governor Seyi Makinde to reverse the renaming and preserve the institution’s original name.
Reacting to the demonstrations, Oyelade said the opposition was unfounded, questioning why anyone would reject honoring someone who had made lasting contributions to education and national development.
He dismissed the protests as “miscarried and misplaced,” and noted that the renaming aligns with a broader national practice, with between 17 and 23 institutions across the country undergoing similar changes.
Oyelade also recalled that Dr. Olunloyo was appointed the first director of the polytechnic in 1970 at the age of 45, underscoring his early role in shaping the institution.
“We stand by that decision because it honors a worthy son of Oyo State,” he concluded.
