Oye community,headquarters ofOye Local Government Area of Ekiti State, was in celebration at the weekend as the traditional ruler of the town, Oba Michael Ademolaju, conferred distinguished sons and daughters awards on illustrious indigenes of the community.The awardees included the Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife, Professor Bamitale Omole; the Chief Medical Director of Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Dr. Patrick Adegun; Archbishop Joseph Sunday Ajayi of Methodist Church Nigeria; Reverend Father Peter Assumpta Ajayi; Dr (Mrs) Adebimpe Okunade, and the immediate past Senator representing Ekiti North in the National Assembly, Senator Ayo Arise.Others were the Director General of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mr Femi Ajayi; the Special Adviser to Governor Kayode Fayemi on Rural Development, Mr Bamitale Oguntoyinbo; a medical doctor and popular community leader, Dr Jimi Oke; the Registrar of College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti, Mr Gbenga Ojo; a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Mr. Akin Omole; a director in the Ekiti State Civil Service, Mr Samuel Akomolafe; and Mr Ayodele Michael Salindo.Oba Ademolaju, in his speech on the occasion, pointed out that the Oye indigenes were honoured for bringing honour to the community, adding that it was a fulfillment of his promise in 1996 when he ascended the throne that 'deserving indigenes of the kingdom will be honoured in their lifetime.'The monarch said: 'From the list of the awardees, there are so many firsts, for instance, vice chancellor, registrar, chief medical director, senator, member of the Senate and state House of Assembly plus local government, civil service, religious leaders and the first Ph.D holder in Nursing,' adding 'Oye community will continue to appreciate achievers.'Chairman of the occasion, Chief Ayo Ogunlade, who cited some of the things the various indigenes had done for the community, agreed that they were worthy of being honoured, pointing out that apart from their scholarly and sundry achievements, they were still in touch with their homeland and contributed to its growth.Chief Ogunlade, who is the Iare of Oye Kingdom and a two-time Minister of National Planning as well as former Federal Commissioner for Information, said 'for instance, Bamitale Oguntoyinbo built the Civic Centre where we are today when he was chairman of Oye Local Government Area, while Dr Jimi Oke built the first full medical centre in Oye-Ekiti.'Ayo Arise is the first son of Oye-Ekiti to be elected Senator of the Federal Republic and himself and Mr Femi Ajayi played a key role in ensuring that the Federal University Oye-Ekiti was sited in our community, while Dr Patrick Adegun is a first class medical practitioner.'While congratulating them for the honour, he urged them not to relent and urged other sons and daughters of the community to emulate the ambassadors in contributing to the growth of the community.
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