The recent decision by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde to rename The Polytechnic, Ibadan, after its pioneer rector, Dr Omololu Olunloyo, has sparked a public debate. While intended as a tribute to Olunloyo’s legacy in education and governance, the move raises serious concerns about how Nigeria honours its heroes—and at what cost.
Established on August 7, 1970, The Polytechnic, Ibadan, has built a unique identity as a premier institution of technical education. It succeeded the Technical College, Ibadan, with a clear mandate: to provide practical skills and alternative higher education to generations of Nigerians. Its name carries historical weight, alumni pride, and cultural symbolism. To replace that with a personal tribute, however well-meaning, dilutes its institutional legacy.
Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. In 2022, Governor Makinde also renamed the Oke-Ogun Polytechnic, Saki, after Michael Koleosho, a prominent political figure. Such decisions often sidestep due consultation and risk politicising educational spaces. Stakeholders have expressed outrage. The Students’ Union Government, staff unions, and concerned alumni have described the renaming as “tone-deaf” and “unjustifiable.” They argue it threatens the school’s identity and brand, one that has endured across generations.
Governor Makinde has stated that he is open to reconsidering the move if presented with compelling arguments. However, history already offers such lessons: In 2012, President Goodluck Jonathan’s renaming of the University of Lagos was met with intense backlash, forcing a reversal of the decision. The legacy of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, must not suffer the same fate. True honour lies in lasting impact, not in erasing institutional identity.
