Academic and other activities at the main campus of The Polytechnic Ibadan were halted on Tuesday morning as students took to the streets to protest the institution's renaming to Victor Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic Ibadan by Governor Seyi Makinde. The Governor had announced this decision during an interdenominational service held in honor of the late former Governor Omololu Olunloyo, citing his significant contributions to the growth of the education sector in the state and across the country. Olunloyo was not only a former Governor of the old Oyo State (October to December 1983) but also the first Rector of The Polytechnic Ibadan and a former Commissioner in the old Western region.

The Governor's decision has ignited widespread controversy, dividing public opinion, students, and even the alumni association. This contentious move led to enraged students paralyzing academic and related activities on campus, with the South and North campus gates placed under lock and key. The protest quickly escalated, bringing vehicular and pedestrian movement to a complete halt along major routes like Sango-Eleyele Road, leaving hundreds of commuters, staff, and residents stranded for several hours. Students staged roadblocks at Sango Junction and later stormed the Oyo State Government Secretariat in Agodi, Ibadan, wielding placards with messages such as “Keep the legacy” and singing solidarity songs. They even forced security operatives to shut the entrance gates of the Secretariat.

The protesting students have unequivocally insisted that the situation will persist until Governor Makinde reverses his decision. They view the renaming as an assault on the institution’s over five-decade-long heritage and identity. The Students' Union Government (SUG) of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, further solidified this stance by sending a strongly worded letter to the Governor on June 26, 2025. Signed by President Oladipupo Olamide and General Secretary Azeez Tolase, the letter condemned the renaming as “unjustifiable” and a disregard for the institution's legacy of academic excellence. The union warned that altering the name would cause “irreparable harm” to its reputation and alumni, reiterating their demand that “The Polytechnic Ibadan must remain as the Polytechnic Ibadan.” While offering to engage in dialogue, the SUG maintained its firm position on the institution's name. As of the time of reporting, there has been no official response from the Oyo State Government regarding the students’ demands, and the students continue to lay siege at the Secretariat.