“Ekiti, Land of Honour” is a refrain that resonates at every public occasion when there is any reference to Ekiti State, which was created by the late General Sani Abacha, exactly 17 years ago, today. The creation was as a result of the concerted agitation of a people often referred to as a determined people who were burdened by an apparent marginalization in an administrative sector which metamor
phosed into Ondo State from an earlier Ondo Province. It is important to mention that the moniker, ‘Land of Honour’ came with the present administration of Dr. Kayode Fayemi’s conviction that this is more appropriate than the previous ‘Fountain of Knowledge’. Yes, there is no contesting that every space of Ekitiland is populated by professors of varied academic disciplines, but it is obvious that Honour is higher on the scale of values than Knowledge. However, while the people have embraced ‘Land of Honour’ as the more befitting tag, we are yet to adequately show the world by public acclaim and appreciation the achievements of our citizens all over the world who are doing well in their respective professions to show how much the Ekiti are doing in the society. Whereas it is a popular Yoruba saying that “Yin’ni yin’ni, kéni o le se’mii”(an acknowledgement is indeed an incentive to do more), yet both government at all levels, and the people as a collective should not be tired of identifying for public celebration our own sons and daughters who have remained the symbols of the land. And this is what has brought us here today: to celebrate very few, yet symbolic number of Ekiti State sons and daughters drawn from the media practice. The organizers of this event do NOT pretend that these are all we have, not at all. Efforts to enlarge this size were limited by several reasons, principal of which were responses from nominees, resources to capture as many as were eminently qualified to be honoured today, and natural hesitation that greets every novel idea. All the same, we went ahead with this historic first step in obedience of the biblical injunction not to despise the days of humble beginning with the firm belief that the future is ahead for a bigger, bolder stride for Ekiti Leadership Award in Media Practice. Let me end by congratulating everybody here present, the honourees for their pioneering recognition, and the rest for being witnesses to history.
