Jonathan eventually reversed the decision on February 22, 2013, after months of resistance. Similarly, the University of Ife was renamed Obafemi Awolowo University by former Head of State Ibrahim Babangida in 1987, but the institution’s iconic moniker, ‘Great Ife,’ endures among alumni and students.

Educational institutions possess their soul, philosophy, and identity.

 They are brands whose essence transcends generations and should be celebrated, not diminished by the imposition of individual names. In countries that value education, such legacies are carefully preserved.

By renaming The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Makinde is courting needless controversy. The city itself is an iconic centre of learning and the capital of the former Western Region—a base for the Yoruba intelligentsia.

The Polytechnic, Ibadan, cannot simply be subsumed under an individual’s name without unjustly stripping it of its unique character. This is unacceptable.

If Makinde wishes to honour Olunloyo, he could name another state asset after him, or dedicate a hall or building within the campus.

The Polytechnic, Ibadan, is a heritage that must be preserved for future generations.