The Chairman of the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers His Royal Majesty, Oba Ayorinde Ilori Faboro, has congratulated past and present students as well as the management of Ekiti Parapo College, Ido Ekiti as they celebrate 70 years of the founding of the school.
Oba Faboro, who is also the Olojudo of Ido Ekiti, described the founding of the college in his domain on 29th January 1954 as a testimonial to the global renown of Ekiti State as the Fountain of Knowledge owing to the thirst for quality education by indigenes of the state.
The traditional ruler made this declaration in his palace when members of the Ekiti Parapo College Old Students Association (EPCOSA) led staff and students of the school on a courtesy visit to the Olojudo-in-Council as part of activities to kick off the platinum jubilee of the school.
Oba Faboro said: “I am happy that Ekiti Parapo College is celebrating 70 years of its establishment, and I am particularly happy that it has continued to maintain its position as one of the leading post-primary institutions not just in Ekiti State but in the whole of Nigeria”.
He expressed his support of the continuing development of the college in line with the vision of the old students association to contribute to making the institution the best secondary school in the world.
“I share the vision of the Ekiti Parapo College Ido Ekiti Old Students Association to build on the dream of the founders of the College and will like to assure you that my brother Obas will also lend support the move to make the College a legacy institution on account of its historical position as the first and only post-primary institution owned by Ekiti people to promote the unity of the people”, Oba Faboro said.
Earlier, the National President of EPCOSA, Mr. DotunAdekanmbi said the visit to the Olojudo-in-Council was in keeping with the culture of respect to constituted authorities, noting that the Olojudo wears the twin-crown of being the Kabiyesi of the host community to the College as well as the Chairman of the Council of Traditional Rulers in Ekiti State.
“At 70, EkitiParapo College, IdoEkiti has come of age and needs to be accorded its rightful place as the first and only community post-primary educational institution owned by all sons and daughters of Ekiti to engender the intellectual growth of Ekiti people and consolidate the unity of the people”, Adekanmbi said.
He called on the Olojudo and the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers to support EPCOSA’s drive to have the Ekiti State Government designate Ekiti Parapo College a legacy institution in view of its historical importance as a memorial to the unity of Ekiti people in the 16-year War of Independence (1877 – 1893) that broke the yoke of oppression exerted on Ekiti people by Ibadan imperialists.
Ekiti Parapo College was founded on 29th January 1954 by the Ekiti National Association and Ekiti Progressive Union as the symbol of the unity of Ekiti people. The motto of the College, Agbajopo Owo (Unity is Strength) was also adapted from the united front that aided the war efforts during the Ekiti Parapo War.
