By Banji Ayoola
Twenty one students from Ondo State who excelled at local and global competitions have been honoured by the state government.
They were honoured on Thursday at the Grand finale of schools debate and award presentation to selected students across the three senatorial districts of the state in Akure the state capital as part of the second term inauguration ceremonies of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and the new Deputy Governor, Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
The 21 students from the state’s three senatorial districts were awarded for their winning prizes and laurels for Ondo state both nationally and internationally.
The state had come first in different categories in this year’s competitions from Abuja, a feat which the immediate former Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Pastor Femi Agagu, attributed to the state government’s support to the education sector.
While commending government for the support, he said that the state has been winning laurels in the last three, four years in major competitions.
He attributed the success of Ondo State students in competitions both at the national and international levels in the last four years has been attributed to the support of the present administration.
Also, Prof Akinbo Adesomoju, who chaired the occasion, said that the state has a bright future with the performance of the students at the competitions.
Besides, he praised the state government for what it has done in the last four years in the development of education.
On his own, the Permanent Secretary of Education, Science and Technology, Revd Akin Asaniyan assured the government and people of Ondo state that the ministry would build on the achievement so far recorded.
Also, Chairman of Academic Staff of Secondary Schools, Comrade Tajudeen Balogun, described the feat as a proof that public schools are very good.
The competition which has gone through local and zonal levels had its grand finale among the three senatorial districts of the state.
In the junior category, Comprehensive High School Igbobini in Ondo South senatorial district came first while Mount Carmel Girls’ Grammar School and Igbokoda Grammar Igbokoda came second and third respectively.
In the senior category, Ilaje High School, Igbokoda took the first position while St Helen Unity Secondary School, Ondo and Victory College, Ikare took the second and third positions respectively.
Speaking, Akeredolu promised to improve more in his quest to raise the bar of education across the 18 local government areas of the state in his second term.
He appreciated Agagu and the Ministry of Education for their insistence to honour students who have one way or the other made the state proud in their studies.
The Governor said that his administration in the last four years had done fairly well in education through renovation and building of over 800 primary schools across the 18 local government areas to raise the standard of education at the primary school level.
Akeredolu assured the students that his administration in the next four years would do more to improve the standard of education both at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels
