Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has directed the immediate suspension of the Rector of Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, Engr. Dr Abdul Jimoh Mohammed, and instituted an official inquiry into a student protest that erupted at the institution this week.
The governor’s decision, announced on January 21, 2026, follows demonstrations by students who opposed the continued use of the polytechnic campus as a temporary National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation centre while academic activities were ongoing.
A statement issued by the State Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu, confirmed that the rector has been asked to step aside from his duties pending the outcome of the investigation.
The most senior deputy rector will oversee the institution in an acting capacity during this period.
To probe the circumstances surrounding the unrest, Governor AbdulRazaq has constituted a three‑member panel chaired by the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Ibrahim Sulyman.
Other committee members include the Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Nafisat Buge, and the Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare, Dr Mrs. Mercy Olufunke Shittu.
The panel has been given two weeks to submit its findings.
Its mandate includes examining both the immediate triggers and deeper causes of the protest, evaluating how the situation was managed, and recommending measures to prevent a recurrence, as well as suggesting approaches to strengthen institutional stability and development.
The student protest, which prompted the temporary closure of the polytechnic, unfolded after management granted students a three‑week break to facilitate the NYSC orientation exercise, a decision some students rejected because they had just returned from the Christmas and New Year break.
Security operatives were deployed to restore order as tensions escalated at the school’s main gate, resulting in interventions that affected several students and staff.
Authorities described the rector’s suspension and the investigation as necessary steps to address the concerns raised and to ensure a safe, orderly environment for all stakeholders.