Foremost educationist and first African Professor of Physics, late Prof. Daniel Ojo popularly called Ojo Ugbole, literary giant, Prof. Niyi Osundare, first female Plant Nematologist in Africa, Prof. Funke Egunjobi, pioneer researcher in the genetics of Sickle Cell, Prof. Adeyinka Falusi and 12 other outstanding Nigerians were on Thursday, presented the 2013 Ekiti State Merit Award by the state Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.
The 12 others include 17-year old Olayemi Ajayi who is to represent Nigeria in Denmark at next year’s Robotic Space Competition; Joshua Olamiju who had the best result in the last WASSCE in the State with nine distinctions, radio presenter, Chief Akinlade Ojo also known as Erugale; late Chief Ojo Ajibola; an indigenous interior decorator, late Chief James Kolawole; former Scribe of the Yoruba Council of Elders, YCE, Dr Kunle Olajide; former President of the All –Nigerian Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools, ANCOPPS, Elder Enoch Dare and a renowned medical practitioner, Dr Sanya Olurotimi.
Others are retired Anglican Bishop of Lagos West, Revd. Peter Adebiyi; Elder statesman and reputed Banker, Chief Bandele Falegan; Business mogul, Chief Daniel Okoli and Presenter and Custodian of Ekiti dialect, Mrs Christian Ademulegun. The Government Science College Emure- Ekiti was the best school in the last WASSCE and Christ’s School Ado Ekiti bagged the most improved school with an improvement in the SSCE result from 9 percent in 2012 to 99.9 percent in 2013.
Speaking at the event, the State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi said Ekiti people are honourable men and women, adding that it was time conscious efforts were made to project this positive image everywhere.
The Governor said that Ekiti people can only redeem the lost heritage by acknowledging that they have drifted a long way from who they were, while embracing new practices that are alien to the Ekiti values.
Fayemi stressed that the State Merit award was institutionalise not just to celebrate the high achieving Ekiti indigenes but also as one of the means of restoring the the primacy of values in the society.
He said: “It is sad indeed to observe the sharp decline that our once highly revered culture and tradition has suffered in recent times. Our psyche has been so badly damaged by decades of misrule and the monetisation of our values system with our youth being most affected. It is on this note that as one of the means of restoring the primacy of values in our society, we decided to institutionalise this Annual Awards.”
The governor added that the initiative retains relevance as one of the platforms for advancing the quest to rebuild a wholesome society upon the pristine values that define Ekiti people.
Dr Fayemi asserted that the awardees have done the state proud in their respective fields despite the moral decay which now characterises the society; adding that the event would encourage upcoming generation to work relentlessly to propagate the good name of the State and project her image.
While congratulating the awardees, the Governor commended Chief Okoli, a non indigenes that got the award for making Ekiti his home, emphasizing that Ekiti has become home to countless non indigenes that in the spirit of federalism have the same rights and privileges and have added to the vibrancy and cosmopolitan outlook of the State.