By, Ayoofe Aiyedatiwa
Renaming Polytechnic Ibadan after Late Victor Omololu Olunloyo yesterday us expectedly generating reactions.
Oyo State Governor, 鈥楽eyi Makinde, has renamed The Polytechnic, Ibadan as Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic in honour of the late former governor, Dr Victor Omololu Olunloyo.
Olunloyo, who died on April 6, this year, was the pioneer Principal of the institution..
The governor announced this yesterday at the state interdenominational service in honour of the late former governor at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan.
Makinde said Olunloyo lived an eventful life, adding that he was a scholar, statesman, technocrat, lover of culture and man of deep conviction.
Despite the downpour, many residents and indigenes trooped out to celebrate the late former governor.
The rain almost prevented the governor from making his remarks.
He said: 鈥淏aba left an enduring footprint on the sands of Oyo State and, indeed, Nigeria as a whole.
Today, we will be giving Baba another honour to immortalise him. He was the first Principal of The Polytechnic, Ibadan; that institution will now be named Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan.鈥
There views that it鈥檚 a matter of nomenclature, not substance. The institution鈥檚 educational credibility and the value of its students鈥 degrees remain unchanged.
Some are if the opinions that, Baba Omololu Olunloyo has been immortalized during his lifetime, and that there is no need to rename The Polytechnic, Ibadan after him. There is a deep emotional and sentimental attachment to that school from both former and current students.
鈥淲e all love Baba Olunloyo, but institutions like that need to be preserved.
Omololu Olunloyo was the first Ibadan indigene to become governor鈥he Olunloyo family was the first educated family in Ibadan.. Omololu Olunloyo was a Mathematical prodigy鈥.what is the significance in the name 鈥楶olytechnic Ibadan鈥 that makes it better than it been named after a science and technology genius鈥ho became a minister in the Western region at age of 27 years鈥hat can motivate or inspire future students more than that.. .world over, monuments and public institutions are named after such personalities
Let us not undermine decades of achievement with a single act of rebranding. True progress lies not in changing a name, but in strengthening the excellence that name represents.
The election that brought Olunloyo to power was the bloodiest in the history of Oyo state. People were murdered like animals.
When The University of Ife became Obafemi Awolowo University, heaven no fall. People will get used to it, it will only affect present generation, after 50yrs, the new and old graduants alive would be proud of the name Olunloyo.