Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has expressed willingness to engage with protesters opposing the renaming of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, to Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, stating that his administration would yield to superior arguments.
The governor made the remarks during the inauguration of governing boards for five state-owned tertiary institutions in Ibadan on Friday. While acknowledging the emotional attachment to the institution’s original name, Makinde emphasized that policy decisions should be based on merit rather than sentiment.
The name change, announced in June to honor former governor Omololu Olunloyo—who was also the institution’s first rector—has drawn criticism from students and alumni. Makinde, however, defended the decision, citing Olunloyo’s contributions while inviting dissenting voices to present logical counterarguments.
“If you have any superior argument apart from sentiment, we are ready to engage,” he said. “When alumni of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) opposed a similar name change, we listened because they provided valid examples. The same applies here.”
Makinde also urged protesters to avoid disrupting public order, reminding them that peaceful dialogue through proper channels remains the best approach. He assured stakeholders of his administration’s commitment to improving infrastructure and academic standards across state-owned institutions.
Addressing funding challenges, the governor acknowledged delays in subventions but pledged to work with governing councils to resolve financial constraints. He highlighted his administration’s progress in expanding tertiary education, noting that Oyo now has three fully owned universities, up from “one and a half” in 2019.
During the event, Makinde signed into law the renaming of Oke Ogun Polytechnic, Saki, to Michael Koleoso Polytechnic, Saki. He also inaugurated governing council chairmen for the affected institutions, charging them to uphold excellence.
The governor concluded by thanking education stakeholders, particularly LAUTECH’s governing council, for their role in strengthening the state’s tertiary institutions, reaffirming his commitment to sustaining global standards in Oyo’s education sector.
