Kwara Poly Reopens March 2 After Weeks Closure
The Kwara State Government has approved the reopening of Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, with academic and administrative activities scheduled to resume on Monday, March 2, 2026, after several weeks of closure.
The decision was conveyed in a statement issued by the institution’s Acting Registrar and signed by the Director of the Information Division, Halimat Garba.
The management directed all staff and students to return promptly and comply with the resumption date.
According to the statement, the approval by the state government clears the way for the polytechnic to continue normal operations and complete the first semester of the 2025/2026 academic session.
The institution was shut on January 19 following protests by students over the use of the campus as a temporary orientation camp for members of the National Youth Service Corps.
The closure was ordered by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq after demonstrations erupted on campus. Management had earlier explained that the polytechnic was designated as a temporary NYSC orientation camp due to prevailing security concerns in the state.
While previous batches of corps members were accommodated during academic breaks, the latest orientation exercise coincided with ongoing lectures, prompting tensions among students who had just resumed from the Christmas and New Year holidays.
To facilitate the exercise and prevent disruption, the management initially granted students a three-week break effective January 19.
However, some students opposed the move, citing concerns over safety, welfare and academic continuity.
The protest later escalated, with security operatives deployed to restore order.
Management reported that several students and staff members, including the institution’s Chief Security Officer, sustained injuries during the incident. It also alleged that some security personnel fired tear gas canisters into parts of the campus, including student hostels.
The Students’ Union Government condemned the use of force, maintaining that the protest was peaceful. The Peoples Democratic Party in the state also criticised the handling of the situation and called for an independent probe into the actions of security operatives.
With the reopening now confirmed, management expressed appreciation to staff and students for their patience during the closure and pledged a smooth continuation of academic activities.
