Outrage in Ibadan: Students Block Sango‑Eleyele Road Over Polytechnic Renaming

Hundreds of commuters and staff were caught in chaos on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, as students of The Polytechnic, Ibadan barricaded entry gates and blocked the bustling Sango‑Eleyele Road. Their protest erupted following Governor Seyi Makinde’s recent decision to rename the institution as Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan, provoking widespread resistance.

Union leaders say the decision disregards over 50 years of history and threatens the school’s brand. SUG President Oladipupo Olamide issued a statement on June 27, labelling the move “unjustifiable and degrading,” stressing that the name change undermines the institution’s identity and erases its national reputation.

Alumni and staff unions have echoed this sentiment. Yomi Akande, of the Non-Academic Staff Union, warned the change compromises legacy and documentation, urging the state government to reconsider. He said the name “Polytechnic, Ibadan” carries weight built through decades of academic excellence.

Protesters say they will not back down unless dialogue starts. They’re calling on Makinde’s administration to explore alternative honouring methods—such as naming a building or research centre after Victor Omololu Olunloyo—rather than erasing the institution’s name.

Governor Makinde, who announced the renaming during a commendation service for the late Olunloyo—who served as Rector in the 1970s and briefly as Old Oyo State Governor in 1983—has defended the move as a fitting tribute.

Tensions escalated early Tuesday as students erected barricades, interrupting daily commutes and preventing staff from accessing campus. Many passengers were left stranded, while locals watched on anxiously at the blocked key artery leading to Ibadan’s heart.

As debates intensify, stakeholders warn that this renaming dispute could set a precedent for how Nigerian state institutions balance heritage preservation with honouring past leaders. With the community at an impasse, the next steps by Governor Makinde could define public trust in educational governance.