By Toba Babalola
About 32 Secondary School Students in Ekiti State that recently distinguished themselves in their studies have been awarded prizes by members of the Ekiti Association in Houston, Texas
The 1st annual prize giving ceremony was held at Christ School, Alumni Association Hall, Ado Ekit
The maiden event was attended by the award recipients, their parents, traditional rulers, officials from the State Universal Basic Education Board, Ministry of Education, Youths and Development as well as Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM)
Representatives of Ekiti Indigenes in Houston, Texas were also on ground at the ceremony.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Association, Pastor Bolu Alabi said Ekiti Indigenes in Houston instituted this year’s award for best students in the last Junior Secondary school Certificate Examination to encourage healthy rivalry and academic excellence in the state, as the Association plans to impact on other sectors that affect the people and society.
Pastor Alabi who said the initiative was to complement Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s feat in the sector, noted that there was no shortcut to success in life and charged the students to remain committed to their studies.
He lauded the achievements of Governor Oyebanji in the last one and half years in office promising the support of the US based Association for the Ekiti government.
Cheques of fifty thousand naira were presented to each student by members of the Association, Mrs Yetunde Alabi, Mrs Foluso Solola and Mrs Mary Oso,
The Chairman of the Occasion and former Managing Director of a new generation Bank, Mr Olufemi Bakare observed that indigenes of the state who sojourn in the foreign lands work tirelessly to survive and thanked those in Houston, Texas for giving back to their state of origin.
A guest lecturer, Professor Wole Olaiya who spoke on Education in the Season of Japa, said in the current reality, aspired students can survive in the sector through qualitative education to engender intelligence, character and success.
The Onisan, Oba Gabriel Adejuwon, Ogoga, Oba Adejimi Adu, Olora, Oba Peter Daramola and Chief Segun Ajibulu commended the efforts of members of the Ekiti Association in Houston, Texas for the initiative and urged the students to justify the largesse in their academics.
The students thanked the Ekiti Association in Houston Texas for the prize awards and promised to keep the flag flying
