A Heritage Under Threat (Part 2): If OSPOLY Can Build an Auditorium, Why Not Renovate the Students’ Union Building?
In the ongoing debate surrounding the fate of the Students’ Union Building (SUB) at Osun State Polytechnic, Iree (OSPOLY), the institution’s leadership has now offered a new narrative. Rather than outright demolition, they claim the plan is to construct another building within the same land occupied by the SUB. But does this truly change anything? The fundamental issue remains: why is the historic heart of student activism and governance being sidelined in favour of a new structure when it could be preserved and revitalised?
The administration has declared its ambition to erect a 2,500-seater auditorium on this site. This raises an essential question—if the institution possesses the resources and capability to undertake such a large-scale project, why not channel some of that effort into renovating and modernising the existing Students’ Union Building? Why is the heritage of student governance being treated as an inconvenience rather than a legacy worth preserving?
For decades, the SUB has been more than just a building; it has been the nerve centre of student representation, a bastion of activism, and a space where the voices of students have been amplified. If OSPOLY’s leadership truly acknowledges its significance, the logical course of action would be to rejuvenate it to a higher standard, reinforcing its historical value rather than overshadowing it with a new development.
However, what is unfolding contradicts this ideal. Instead of working towards conservation and enhancement, the administration has chosen to prioritise new construction within the same land, effectively undermining the Students’ Union Building’s status. This decision, whether framed as demolition or reallocation, disregards the principle that institutional progress should not come at the expense of student history and representation.
The fundamental question remains: why is the SUB not being upgraded if the institution has the resources to build an expansive auditorium? Why is the priority not placed on reinforcing student structures that have shaped the institution’s governance for years?
If OSPOLY’s leadership is genuinely committed to inclusive decision-making, they must engage students transparently and ensure that any infrastructural development aligns with preserving student heritage. The SUB is not merely a physical space; it is a historical monument that embodies the spirit of student activism and leadership. It deserves more than to be quietly diminished in the name of expansion.
History will remember how this issue is handled. Will OSPOLY be an institution that values its student history, or will it be one that erases it under the guise of development? The answer to this question will define the institution’s legacy for generations to come.
Folaranmi Ajayi (Enigma) writes from West Africa, Fellow, Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.
(Editor-in-Chief, OSPOLY NAMACOS Editorial Board, 2019 Set.)
