Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Thursday officially renamed The Polytechnic, Ibadan after the late former governor of the state, Dr. Omololu Olunloyo.
Makinde made the announcement during his remarks at an interdenominational commendation service held in honour of the former governor at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium in Ibadan.
“The institution will now be known as Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan,” he declared.
The late Olunloyo served as the pioneer Rector of the institution before becoming governor. He died on April 6, 2025, just weeks to his 90th birthday.
On Wednesday, Makinde disclosed plans by the state government to preserve and digitise Olunloyo’s personal library.
He described it as a treasure trove of knowledge capable of offering solutions to numerous challenges facing the country.
He added that the library would be transformed into a tourist attraction as part of efforts to immortalise the late elder statesman.
Governor Makinde made this known while paying final respects at a lying-in-state and executive session held at the House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.
He further stated that the government would inaugurate the Omololu Olunloyo Leisure Park located in the Alakia Airport area of Ibadan. The park was named after the late governor in 2023.
The state had also previously named the 3km Airport Road after Olunloyo.
Makinde praised the late governor, describing him as one of his most trusted advisers.
He said immortalising his legacy and investing in tourism through the library aligns with his administration’s broader development agenda.
He said: “I have lost a partner. Sometimes, he would tell me how some problems were solved before my time in the state.
“When people look at me and wonder how come Oyo State has been so peaceful during my tenure, they don’t know that I go to these leaders and they analyse things for me and leave me to make the best decisions for the state.
“We must give honour to whom it is due. This event is important; it is an avenue for us to give a befitting passage to an individual who gave a good part of his life to serve this state and country.
“There are two things I need to let this gathering know. One is the fact that the Omololu Olunloyo Park is ready for commissioning and we will open it soon.
“Two, in most of my discussions with Baba, there was no way we would talk and wouldn’t get to the issue of his library.”
“So, I am making a public announcement now that the state would support the family to preserve and digitise that library,” he said.
