By Olofe Abiodun
Ekiti State government has reiterated its continued efforts and interest to rewarding brilliance at all educational levels in the state as a means of promoting excellence and competition among pupils.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Science and Technology Dr Kofoworola Aderiye disclosed this when he played host to members of Ekiti Parapo Carolina, a socio-cultural group of Ekiti indigenes resident in the USA, in her office in Ado Ekiti.
Dr Aderiye, who spoke through the Executive Secretary, Ekiti State Scholarship Board, Mrs Bosede Jegede emphasized the commitment of Biodun Oyebanji administration at sustaining the cliche already carved for Ekiti in the area of education worldwide.
The Special Adviser, who appreciated the readiness of the group in sponsoring this year’s scholarship for secondary school students across the State, remarked that Ekiti Parapo Carolina, USA’s gesture last year was well appreciated and prayed them not to relent in their efforts to give back to the state of their origin.
She reiterated that government was ready to partner any group or individual willing to support the education of the less-privileged students and instilling competitiveness in the sector through scholarship awards or otherwise as demonstrated by the group in 2022 with its award of 50,000 naira each to 39 students across the sixteen local government areas of the state.
While calling on well meaning individuals and groups to support the efforts of government at making education attractive to everyone in Ekiti, the Special Adviser guaranteed that the beneficiaries of such scholarship programmes would make judicious use of the support.
Earlier in his remark, the President of Ekiti Parapo Carolina USA, Mr Joseph Olugbamila said the group has a sense of responsibility to give back to the society, especially Ekiti State education sector in order to encourage students to do more and promote healthy rivalry among them.
He echoed that the annual scholarship of the group started year 2021 to assist secondary school students that are of Ekiti origin and to assist the state government in its little way to encourage academic brilliance that Ekiti State is known for.
Mr Joseph Olugbamila assured that the group’s annual scholarship sponsorship would be sustained, urging the state government, through its scholarship board to reach out to other groups, saying that education business should not be left for government alone .
It would be recalled that the group, in its 2022 edition of the award, selected best students in each of the 16 local government areas and rewarded their brilliance with fifty thousand naira each and exercise books, while the Schools of the students were also rewarded with cash gift.