Controversy erupted recently after Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde renamed The Polytechnic, Ibadan, after its pioneer rector, Omololu Olunloyo. The declaration, made during the June 20 interdenominational commendation service for the late governor, has sparked widespread debate.
Renaming historic institutions after individuals is not the right way to immortalise them. While Makinde views the renaming as a fitting tribute to Olunloyo’s contributions to education and governance in Oyo State, this approach is deeply flawed.
Earlier, the governor had signed a bill changing Oke Ogun Polytechnic, Saki, to Michael Koleosho Polytechnic, Saki.
Founded on August 7, 1970, as a successor to the erstwhile Technical College, Ibadan, The Polytechnic, Ibadan was established to provide alternative higher education and technical skills acquisition. Over the decades, it has built a unique identity and legacy.
Unfortunately, Nigerian politicians often make unsound decisions, turning even revered institutions into political tools. Tertiary institutions are meant to embody the vision and principles of their founders, not serve as platforms for self-serving political gestures.
Stakeholders have not remained silent. The Students’ Union Government appealed to the Oyo State House of Assembly to reject the renaming, calling it “unjustifiable” and a “threat to the identity and legacy” of the institution. Students have staged protests in response.
The Chairman of the Non-Academic Staff Union, Yomi Akande, and a coalition of concerned stakeholders have also voiced “deep displeasure and categorical rejection” of the name change, describing it as “tone-deaf” and “bereft of consultation”.
They emphasised that The Polytechnic, Ibadan, is more than an educational institution; it is an identity, a legacy, and a symbol of pride for generations of Nigerians.
Makinde has stated he would reconsider only if presented with compelling arguments, maintaining that the renaming recognises Olunloyo’s contributions to the institution and education in the state.
However, this decision demonstrates a lack of appreciation for the ideals that underpin the polytechnic’s founding. The institution’s image and identity, painstakingly built over time, cannot simply be erased by a whimsical decision. It has outlasted successive administrations and stands as an emblem of the people’s intellectual aspirations.
History offers cautionary tales. When President Goodluck Jonathan renamed the University of Lagos to Moshood Abiola University on May 29, 2012, the move was met with widespread condemnation, protests, and legal challenges from students and alumni.
Jonathan eventually reversed the decision on February 22, 2013, after months of resistance. Similarly, the University of Ife was renamed Obafemi Awolowo University by former Head of State Ibrahim Babangida in 1987, but the institution’s iconic moniker, ‘Great Ife,’ endures among alumni and students.
Educational institutions possess their soul, philosophy, and identity.
They are brands whose essence transcends generations and should be celebrated, not diminished by the imposition of individual names. In countries that value education, such legacies are carefully preserved.
By renaming The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Makinde is courting needless controversy. The city itself is an iconic centre of learning and the capital of the former Western Region—a base for the Yoruba intelligentsia.
The Polytechnic, Ibadan, cannot simply be subsumed under an individual’s name without unjustly stripping it of its unique character. This is unacceptable.
If Makinde wishes to honour Olunloyo, he could name another state asset after him, or dedicate a hall or building within the campus.
The Polytechnic, Ibadan, is a heritage that must be preserved for future generations.
Punch Editorial Board
