Kwara State Polytechnic Appoints Acting Rector Amid Investigation into Student Protests
Dr. Awolola Felicia Olabisi has been appointed Acting Rector of the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, following an order from Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq for the previous rector, Abdul Jimoh Mohamed, to step aside pending an investigation.
The directive stems from recent student protests at the institution. The unrest was triggered by the temporary relocation of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp from Yikpata, Edu local government, to the polytechnic’s permanent site in Ilorin. Governor Abdulrazaq has initiated a formal probe into the causes and handling of the disturbances.
As the institution’s chief academic and administrative officer, Dr. Olabisi is tasked with ensuring the continuity of academic operations and fostering a stable environment for students and staff during this transitional period.
A three-member committee has been established to conduct the investigation. It is chaired by the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ibrahim Sulyman, with the Commissioner for Environment, Nafisat Buge, and the Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare, Dr. Mrs. Mercy Olufunke Shittu, as members. The committee has two weeks to submit its report to the governor.
According to a statement by Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu, Commissioner for Tertiary Education, the committee’s terms of reference include examining the remote and immediate causes of the protest, reviewing the management’s response, and recommending measures to prevent future occurrences. It will also suggest strategies for the institution’s growth. The committee is mandated to engage all relevant stakeholders in its inquiry.
Reports indicate that the investigation will also scrutinize an allegation that the previous rector impersonated the governor by falsely claiming the polytechnic was shut down on gubernatorial orders following the protests.
The appointment of Dr. Olabisi and the swift formation of a high-level committee underscore the state government’s focus on resolving the crisis at Kwara State Polytechnic and restoring normalcy, with findings expected to guide future policy and administrative decisions for the institution.
