Students of The Polytechnic Ibadan, on Tuesday, staged a protest at the Oyo State Government Secretariat over the renaming of the institution after a former governor of the state, Omololu Olunloyo.

The displeased student carried placards with different inscriptions, asking Governor Seyi Makinde to rescind his decision and restore the polytechnic to its original name.

The students urged the governor to protect the integrity of the school’s name which has lasted decades.

On Thursday, June 26, 2025, Makinde renamed The Polytechnic Ibadan after Omololu Olunloyo during the latter’s funeral service held at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Liberty Road, Ibadan.

Dr Victor Olunloyo was former governor of Oyo State.

Olunloyo, who died on April 6, 2025, was the pioneer principal of the polytechnic, while he also served as governor of Oyo State between October 1 and December 31, 1983.

“Today, we will be giving Baba another honour to immortalise him. He was the first Principal of The Polytechnic, Ibadan; that institution will now be named Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan,” the governor had stated.

According to Makinde, Olunloyo lived an eventful life and that his attainment and personality could not be summarised in one sentence, as he was a scholar, a statesman, a technocrat, a lover of culture, and a man of deep conviction.