- Kwara State Polytechnic is set to reopen on Monday, March 2, 2026, after being shut since January 19
- The closure followed student protests over the use of the campus as a temporary orientation camp for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)
- Management expressed appreciation to staff and students for their cooperation during the shutdown and pledged a productive completion of the first semester
The Kwara State Government has announced that the Kwara State Polytechnic will reopen on Monday, March 2, 2026, following weeks of closure triggered by protests over the use of its campus as a temporary orientation camp for members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
The reopening was announced in a statement issued by the institution’s Acting Registrar and signed by the Director of the Information Division, Halimat Garba.
The statement said the decision came after approval from the Kwara State Government for the institution to resume normal academic and administrative activities.
“The Management of Kwara State Polytechnic wishes to formally inform the entire Polytechnic community that the Kwara State Government has approved the re-opening of the Polytechnic for academic and administrative work,” the statement read.
“In line with this directive, the Polytechnic will resume on Monday, March 2, 2026. All staff and students are therefore urged to adhere to this directive and resume at the Polytechnic promptly on the stated date.”
“The Management appreciates both staff and students for their cooperation and understanding during the period of closure and looks forward to a productive and successful completion of the first semester 2025/2026 academic session,” it added.
The institution was shut down on January 19 on the directive of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq after students staged protests against the decision to host NYSC members on campus while academic activities were ongoing.
In an earlier statement, the Acting Registrar, AbdulHafis Amin, explained that the closure became necessary following heightened tensions during demonstrations over the arrangement.
“The Polytechnic had earlier been designated by the state government as a temporary NYSC orientation camp due to prevailing security challenges in the state,” the earlier statement read.
“While previous batches of corps members were accommodated during periods when students were on break or yet to fully resume, the current orientation exercise coincided with full academic activities.”
“To ensure a smooth NYSC orientation exercise and prevent any breakdown of law and order, the management granted students a three-week break effective Monday, January 19, 2026.”
However, some students reportedly opposed the decision, arguing that they had just returned from the Christmas and New Year holidays.
The disagreement escalated into protests on campus, which later turned chaotic, prompting intervention by security operatives.
“The action affected several students and staff, including the polytechnic’s Chief Security Officer, who sustained injuries,” the management had stated.
It further alleged that some security personnel exceeded their mandate by discharging 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 and motivated by concerns over safety, welfare, and disruption to academic activities.
Similarly, the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party criticised the handling of the incident and called for an independent investigation into the conduct of the security operatives.