Eminent journalist and former Senator representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District, Babafemi Ojudu, has congratulated Ekiti Parapo College (EKPACO), Ido Ekiti, on coming of age as the school celebrates the 70th anniversary of its founding.

“70 years in the life of an individual or an institution is a great achievement that also needs to be consolidated so that the present and the future can be a vast improvement on the past,” he said, adding, “The brightness of the future of an educational institution depends on the effective collaboration of the Old Students Association, the school’s management, and parents because government alone cannot bear all the burden of running an educational institution; each must play its assigned roles.”

Sen. Ojudu spoke at Ido Ekiti during an interschool debate competition to flag off activities to mark the platinum jubilee of  EKPACO which was founded on January 29, 1954, by the Ekiti National Association (ENA) and Ekiti Progressive Union (EPU). The College was so named as a symbol of the unity of Ekiti in the 16-year War of Independence (1877–1893) that it broke the yoke of oppression exerted on Ekiti people by Ibadan imperialists.

He charged students at the college to dream big, be fiercely focused on their dreams, benchmark their dreams against global standards, cultivate friendships to consolidate their dreams, and celebrate themselves after every honest win.

“You cannot be successful if you do not nurse big dreams, work very hard, and stay focused on achieving them while also working with mentors who can guide you on how best to achieve your dreams because they have walked that path before,” Ojudu said.

He later presented prizes donated by the Ekiti Parapo College Ido Ekiti Old Students Association (EPCOSA) to all participants in the interschool debate competition. Debaters from three leading secondary schools in Ekiti State: Christ’s School, Ado Ekiti founded in 1933; Doherty Memorial Grammar, Ijero Ekiti founded in 1955; and Annunciation School, Ikere Ekiti founded in 1957, joined the hosts, Ekiti Parapo College, Ido Ekiti founded in 1954, to speak on the topic, “Is Artificial Intelligence a Blessing or a Curse to Humanity?”

The competition was won by the Annunciation School team, which comprised Masters Ibidayo Kolade and Tobiloba Lawal.