A pressure group known as ‘Youth Arise Movement’ has rejected the renaming of The Polytechnic, Ibadan after the late Dr. Omololu Olunloyo, the institution’s first rector by the state governor, Seyi Makinde.

In a press release issued to The Guardian on Saturday, the national coordinator of the group, Comrade Ademola Babatunde Abidemi, who is a former Students’ Union Government President of the institution, argued that the name change will have a negative impact on the institution’s global reputation and its graduates.

“We recognise the intentions and the will of Governor Seyi Makinde to immortalise the late Dr Omololu Olunloyo, but we appeal to the governor to reconsider and reverse the decision.

“The Polytechnic, Ibadan is known globally for its impactful technical knowledge and meaningful impact on students and graduates in and outside Nigeria. The image and name the institution is known for must be preserved by the governor and all stakeholders”, he argued.

Abidemi expressed concerns about the potential difficulties faced by graduates who may want to further their education abroad, citing the possibility of foreign institutions struggling to recognise the new name.

“The difficulty of acceptability by foreign institutions of the students who may want to further their education abroad should be considered significantly, as it will be a setback for the majority of such graduates,” he said.

The group urged Governor Makinde to focus on investing in infrastructure and human capital development in the institution, rather than changing its name.

“We suggest that roads or buildings, such as the Cocoa House, should be named after late Olunloyo and not the Polytechnic Ibadan,” Abidemi added.

The group also called on the Oyo State House of Assembly to reject any attempt by the governor to rename the institution.