By ABDULKABIR MUHAMMED

A group in Ibadan, the Youth Arise Movement, has rejected the renaming of the Ibadan Polytechnic after late Governor Omololu Olunloyo by Governor Seyi Makinde whom it warned against scoring “cheap political goals.” This reaction was triggered by Governor Seyi Makinde declaring on the 26th June, 2025 that the institution be renamed after the pioneer rector.

In a recent press release signed by its national coordinator, Mr Ademola Babatunde Abidemi, the Youth Arise Movement (YAM), condemned this move by Governor Makinde, despite acknowledging his objective of immortalizing the former governor. The group argued that the negative impacts of such pronouncement outweighs its positive impacts.

The statement reads in part: “We recognise the intentions and the will of Governor Seyi Makinde to immortalise the late Dr. Omololu Olunloyo being the first rector of the Polytechnic Ibadan.

“However, there are lots of reasons why we appeal to the Governor to reconsider and reverse the decision as its negative impact on the institution outweighs the positive impact.”

The Youth Arise Movement further noted that the Polytechnic is globally recognized and qualifies to become a university.

“The Polytechnic, Ibadan is known globally for its impactful technical knowledge and meaningful impact on students and graduates in and outside Nigeria.

“It has the structural, intellectual, human resources and capacity to become a University. The renowned citadel of technological innovations has produced great icons over the years,” it asserted.

Justifying its opposition to the Governor’s decision, the group argued that the renaming may affect the image of the institution and pose difficulty of acceptability on its alumni. It submits:

“The image of this institution must be preserved by the Governor and all stakeholders as enshrined in the name it bears.” It further reads:

“The difficulty of acceptability by foreign institutions of the students who may wants to further their education abroad should be considered significantly as it will be a set back the majority of such graduates.”

YAM questions the impacts of late Dr Olunloyo

Meanwhile, the Youth Arise Movement has expressed doubts over the integrity of renaming the Ibadan Polytechnic after late Dr Olunloyo. It says that the institution suffered stunted growth under the late Governor and pioneer rector. In their words:

“The proposed name in the global age of artificial intelligence will make the institution look like an elementary school recently established. It is one record that the impact the late Dr Olunloyo is arguably one of the worst and the institution experienced stunted growth under the late Governor. So we cannot but wonder the real justification for the change of the name of the institution after Dr. Olunloyo

To buttress the point, Governor Seyi Makinde has not highlighted and mentioned the significant contributions of late Olunloyo to the institution to warrant the re-naming of the institution after him. Governor Seyi Makinde will have uphill task convincing the students, parents, alumnis and stakeholders on why the institution should be renamed after late Olunloyo,” they said.

The group have also appealed to the Oyo State House of Assembly to “reject any attempt by the Governor to ridicule the great institution by renaming same after late Olunloyo.”