Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has inaugurated governing councils of state-owned tertiary institutions.

The councils were inaugurated on Friday in Ibadan, the state capital.

The event was attended by the Deputy Governor, Barrister Bayo Lawal; Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin; the Chief Judge of Oyo State, represented by Justice K.A. Adedokun; and a former Deputy Governor of the state, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja.

Others are former Deputy Governors, Engr. Hamid Gbadamosi and Barrister Hazeem Gbolarumi; former Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu; Secretary to the State Government, Professor Olanike Adeyemo; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi; Deputy Chief of Staff, Hon. Kazim Adeyinka Adeniyi; Chairman of Oyo State Advisory Council, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde; PDP State Secretary, Alhaji Wasiu Adeleke; and Chairman of Local Government Chairmen, Hon. Sikiru Oyedele Sanda.

DAILY POST reports that the governing councils of the tertiary institutions inaugurated on Friday included the governing councils of five state-owned higher institutions.

These institutions are: The Polytechnic Ibadan, Ibadan; Oke Ogun Polytechnic, Saki, now Michael Koleoso Polytechnic, Saki; Oyo State College of Agriculture, Igboora; Oyo State College of Education, Lanlate; and Oyo State College of Health Science and Technology, Ibadan.

Our correspondent reports that those inaugurated as chairmen are Professor Lanre Nassar, Hon. Babatunde Olaniyan, Comrade Olusegun Oyewumi, Dr. Amusan Damilare Gideon, and Dr. Bisi Ojebola for The Polytechnic Ibadan, Ibadan; Oyo State College of Health Science and Technology, Eleyele, Ibadan; Oyo State College of Education, Lanlate; Oyo State College of Agriculture, Igboora; and The Oke Ogun Polytechnic, Saki, respectively.

Ekwutosblog reports that other members of the councils were also inaugurated.

The governor also used the opportunity to sign into law the renaming of Oke Ogun Polytechnic, Saki, to Michael Koleoso Polytechnic, Saki.

Makinde, while addressing the gathering, reiterated his administration’s commitment to upholding quality and excellence in state-owned tertiary institutions.

He maintained that his administration will continue to provide necessary support to these institutions.

Makinde, while speaking further, also addressed the controversies surrounding the renaming of The Polytechnic Ibadan to Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan.

The governor, while speaking further, maintained that he will engage the stakeholders, among whom are alumni and students of the institution, over the renaming of the institution.

“I know that this inauguration would not be complete if I refuse to say one thing or the other about the issue regarding the renaming of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, after a former governor of Oyo State, Dr. Omololu Olunloyo.

“We are ready to engage with the people, if you have any superior arguments apart from sentiment. And, if you are coming to us to even talk about the infrastructure and the quality of graduates coming from that institution and making a case for us to put in more resources and all of that, I can understand.”