The Youth Arise Movement has rejected the re-naming of the Polytechnic, Ibadan after the late Dr. Omololu Olunloyo.
Governor Governor Seyi Makinde on Friday announcced the change on Friday
According to the group, which praised the governor for his intention to immortalise the late Dr. Omololu Olunloyo being the first rector of the Polytechnic Ibadan, the negative impact of the name-change far outweighs the positive impact.
Comrade Ademola Babatunde Abidemi, a former SUG PRESIDENT the Polytechnic Ibadan and National coordinator Youth Arise Movement said,
“There are lots of reasons why we appeal to the Governor to reconsider and reverse the decision as its negative impact on the institution outweighs the positive impact. The Polytechnic, Ibadan is known globally for its impactful technical knowledge and meaningful impact on students and graduates in and outside Nigeria,” they said, adding that, “It has the structural, intellectual, human resources and capacity to become a university and has become renowned citadel of technological innovations has produced great icons over the years. the image of this institution must be preserved by the Governor and all stakeholders as enshrined in the name it bears.”
Abidemi argued that the difficulty of acceptability by foreign institutions of the students who may wants to further their education abroad should be considered significantly as it will be a set back the majority of such graduates.
“The governor is therefore humbly urged to invest more in infrastructure and human capital development in the institution to be able to compete favourably amongst other institutions in the country rather than the unnecessary focus on name change. The problem of underfunding and lack of support for research and innovation should also be addressed by the governor,” thegroup said.
He further noted that the new name will reduce the status of the institution “in the global age of artificial intelligence and will make the institution look like an elementary school recently established”.
He said the impact of the late Dr Olunloyo as a former governor of the state the institution experienced stunted growth during his administration, adding that Governor Makinde will have uphill task convincing the students, parents, alumni and stakeholders on why the institution should be renamed after late Olunloyo.
Instead of the institution, Abidemi appealed to the governor to reconsider choosing other infrastructure like roads, or Cocoa House as edifices to name after late Olunloyo.
