Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has officially renamed The Polytechnic, Ibadan to Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan, in honour of the late elder statesman and former governor, Dr. Victor Omololu Olunloyo.
The announcement was made on Thursday during a state interdenominational funeral service held at Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Liberty Road, Ibadan, in memory of Olunloyo, who died on April 6, 2025.
Makinde described Olunloyo as an intellectual giant, technocrat, and cultural icon whose brief but historic tenure as governor and pioneering role as the first Principal of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, made him deserving of the honour.
“Baba left an enduring footprint on the sands of Oyo State and, indeed, Nigeria as a whole,” the governor said.
“He was not a man we could summarise in one sentence. He was a scholar, a statesman, a technocrat, a lover of culture and, above all, a man of deep conviction.”
Makinde added that renaming the institution was a way of immortalising Olunloyo’s legacy alongside plans to digitise his personal library.
“Today, we will be giving Baba another honour. That institution will now be named Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan,” he declared.
However, the renaming has sparked mixed reactions, particularly among the alumni and the Student Union of the institution. While some acknowledge the contributions of Dr. Olunloyo, many have taken to social media and campus forums to express their displeasure over what they described as an abrupt and unilateral decision.
Some alumni described the change as a “historical erasure” of the institution’s identity and legacy, while student representatives argued that there was no proper consultation with key stakeholders before the decision was made.
“The name ‘The Polytechnic, Ibadan’ carries decades of history and prestige. Changing it overnight without involving students and alumni is not only unfair but disrespectful,” a student leader said in an anonymous statement to reporters.
“We respect the late Olunloyo’s contributions, but this is not the way to honour him,” one alumnus wrote online.
Despite the backlash, the Makinde administration insists that the gesture is one of reverence and legacy preservation, especially for a man whose life embodied academic excellence and public service.
Earlier at the funeral, retired Methodist Archbishop of Ilesa and Ibadan, Ayo Ladigbolu, described Olunloyo as a man of “intellectual inspiration and unassailable integrity”, who demonstrated superior leadership throughout his life.
The event was attended by top dignitaries, including Deputy Governor Bayo Lawal, former first ladies, ambassadors, lawmakers, religious leaders, and representatives from the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), among others.
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