The Ekiti Association Houston, Texas, USA, has held its Fourth Annual Prize-Giving Ceremony to recognize and reward best students who excelled in this year’s Junior Secondary School Three (JSS 3) examinations organized by the Ekiti State Government.
The ceremony held at Christ’s School Alumni Hall in Ado Ekiti, the State capital which celebrated the academic achievements of the best-performing students selected from 64 secondary schools across the local council areas of the State, reinforced the importance of educational excellence and youth development.
Addressing dignitaries, educators, parents, and students at the event, the President of the Ekiti Association Houston, Texas, USA, Pastor Bolu Alabi, described the occasion as more than an awards presentation, emphasising that it represented a collective investment in the future of Ekiti State.
He stated that the initiative was designed to encourage hard work, recognize outstanding academic performance, and inspire young people to pursue greater achievements, noting that the 2026 award recipients could become tomorrow’s professionals, entrepreneurs, and leaders.
Pastor Alabi reaffirmed the association’s commitment to the educational development of its homeland, declaring that geographical distance would not diminish its responsibility to contribute to the progress of the State.
He eulogized members of Ekiti Association Houston Texas for their generosity and commitment to sustain the initiative for four consecutive years and reflected the association’s dedication to unity, cultural preservation, community support, and meaningful contributions to the development of its people.
While congratulating the award-winning students, he urged them to remain committed to continuous learning, discipline, hard work and further encouraged them to give back to society when they attain success.
In their goodwill messages, the Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Chief (Mrs.) Monisade Afuye represented by Mr Victor Adeniyi, Chairman of the Occasion, Professor Francis Asubiojo from OAU, Ile-Ife alongside prominent traditional rulers, including the Chairman of the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers and the Ogoga of Ikere-Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Adu, the Onisan of Isan-Ekiti, Oba Gabriel Adejuwon, and the Ojora of Ora-Ekiti, Oba Abdulfatai Aromire, as well as a representative of the State Ministry of Education, TESCOM, EKSU, BOUESTI encouraged the students to remain focused on their academic pursuits, uphold discipline, and take advantage of educational opportunities to secure a brighter future.
The award recipients, in their separate remarks, expressed appreciation to the Ekiti Association Houston, Texas, USA, for recognising their efforts and providing an incentive for academic excellence and promised to keep the flag flying.
A guest lecturer at the ceremony, Professor Kola Oladunmoye, Dean of Life Sciences at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), delivered a lecture highlighting the importance of education, knowledge, discipline, and innovation in preparing young people for future challenges.
