Protest Erupts In Ibadan As Students Reject Renaming Of Polytechnic

Tension gripped Ibadan, Oyo State, on Tuesday as students of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, staged a mass protest against the state government’s decision to rename the institution.

The protest, which began in the early hours of the day, caused heavy gridlock along the busy Sango-Eleyele Road as students barricaded the main entrances of the campus and blocked sections of the road, leaving many commuters stranded for hours.

The demonstration followed Governor Seyi Makinde’s recent announcement renaming the school to Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic in honour of the late Omololu Olunloyo, a former governor of old Oyo State and the first Ibadan indigene to hold the office. Olunloyo passed away recently at the age of 89.

Students, however, rejected the change, calling it an attack on the legacy and identity of the institution. They argued that the renaming was unnecessary and politically motivated.

Eyewitnesses reported that both main gates of the polytechnic were shut by protesters, with nearby roads also blocked, forcing motorists and pedestrians to seek alternative routes.

As of the time of filing this report, no official statement had been released by security agencies.