Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has issued a strong but conciliatory response to recent criticisms from the alumni and student union of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, assuring them that his administration is open to engagement and willing to revise decisions if presented with superior arguments.
Makinde made the remarks while addressing ongoing concerns regarding the renaming of state-owned tertiary institution, The Polytechnic, Ibadan to Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan.
Recall that Governor Makinde, had earlier in June, renamed the Polytechnic Ibadan as Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic Ibadan, as part of activities in honor of the former governor of the old Oyo who was also the pioneer Rector of the Polytechnic, Ibadan.
Makinde gave the response in a remark during his official inauguration of Governing Boards of all the five state owned tertiary institutions at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office on Friday, July 11.
The five state owned tertiary institutions include the Polytechnic Ibadan, The Oke Ogun Polytechnic Saki, Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora, Oyo state College of Education, Lanlate, and Oyo state College of Health Science and Technology.
This was as the governor as a show of honor, also assented a law which renamed Oke-ogun Polytechnic, Saki to Michael Koleosho Polytechnic, Saki.
The governor’s response to criticism trailing his renaming of the Polytechnic, Ibadan to Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic followed a full-page advert published in a national newspaper by the alumni association of The Polytechnic Ibadan to express opposition to the renaming and raising concerns about the institution’s welfare and development.
“I saw a full-page advert in the newspaper by the alumni of the Polytechnic of Ibadan, and I thought to myself, maybe I’m wrong, maybe I haven’t paid personal attention to the Polytechnic. To place a full-page advert in The Punch should cost close to one million naira. I’ve been looking for projects initiated by the alumni so I can compare whether that advert reflects a genuine commitment to improving education there,” Makinde said.
While acknowledging the emotional attachment many have to the institution’s name, Makinde emphasized that sentiment alone would not drive policy decisions. Drawing on a similar episode concerning Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), he recalled how alumni successfully persuaded the government to retain the name by presenting evidence-based arguments.
“We allowed superior arguments to prevail,” he explained. “What we should be mostly concerned about is the quality of the products from these schools. If you’re coming to us with superior reasoning, we’re ready to engage, and if we’re wrong, we’ll even take out our own full-page advert to apologize,” Makinde added.
Makinde also urged students and stakeholders to use proper channels in expressing grievances, cautioning against disruptive protests. “When you disturb others from going about their lawful activities, you need to realize that your freedom stops where theirs begins,” he cautioned.
On the larger state of tertiary education in Oyo, the governor noted that the institutions are facing financial pressures, largely due to increased wage obligations. He recounted that upon assuming office in 2019, his administration inherited a subvention policy that was only 50% funded but promptly restored it to 100%, a move that added over a billion naira monthly to the state’s wage bill.
Makinde disclosed that the recent increase in the national minimum wage from ₦30,000 to ₦80,000 has further strained institutional finances, but pledged continued engagement with governing councils and staff unions to find lasting solutions.
“We don’t want this to be a hardship for the governing councils of these institutions. The resources of the state are limited, but we remain committed to quality education and ensuring our graduates can compete globally,” he said.
The governor officially announced the appointment of new governing councils for various state institutions, including The Polytechnic Ibadan, Michael Koleosho Polytechnic Saki (formerly The Oke Ogun Polytechnic), Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology Igboora, Oyo State College of Education Lanlate, Oyo State College of Science and Technology, and the College of Health Science and Technology.
Makinde however, reaffirmed his administration’s openness to correction and collaboration.
“If you have any issue, not based on sentiment, we will listen and do whatever we can within our power to improve infrastructure and the quality of education. We want our institutions to thrive, and we’re always open to engaging constructively.”