The Kwara State Government has taken decisive action following a protest by students of Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, ordering the indefinite suspension of the institution’s Rector, Engr. Dr. Abdul Jimoh Mohammed, and commissioning a high-powered committee to unravel the circumstances surrounding the unrest.
The move, announced Wednesday, January 21, 2026, by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, is part of broader efforts to address rising tensions on campus triggered by disagreements over the use of the polytechnic’s facilities as a temporary National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp, a decision that culminated in protests, a security breach and the temporary closure of the institution.
In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu, Governor AbdulRazaq directed Dr. Mohammed to step aside from his duties with immediate effect, pending the outcome of the investigation. During his absence, the most senior Deputy Rector has been mandated to serve as Acting Rector to ensure continuity of administration.
“The Governor has meanwhile directed the Rector of the Polytechnic, Engr. Dr. Abdul Jimoh Mohammed, to immediately step aside from his role until further notice,” the statement read.
Governor AbdulRazaq also constituted a three-member investigative panel tasked with determining both the remote and immediate causes of the protest, how it unfolded and how it was handled by authorities. The committee has been given two weeks to submit its report.
The panel is chaired by Barrister Ibrahim Sulyman, the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, and includes: Hajia Nafisat Buge, Commissioner for Environment, and Dr. Mrs. Mercy Olufunke Shittu, Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare.
According to the statement, the committee’s terms of reference include recommending measures to prevent a recurrence of such incidents in the future, and making further proposals that will “promote the growth and stability of the institution.”
To facilitate the current NYSC exercise, the school granted students a three-week break effective January 19, 2026. However, many returning students felt aggrieved that this arrangement coincided with the end of their Christmas and New Year holiday, triggering protests that escalated at the main gate of the institution.
In response to the escalation, Governor AbdulRazaq ordered the closure of Kwara State Polytechnic to safeguard lives and property and to restore calm on campus.
