EKPACO: The Journey So Far…
Ekiti Parapo College, Ido Ekiti, Nigeria was founded on Friday, January 29, 1954 as a memorial to the 16-year (1877 – 1893) Ekiti war of independence that was fought to achieve the historic liberation of Ekitiland from the grips of Ibadan, their internal colonial masters.
The name – Ekiti Parapo – derived from the military alliance that included Ekiti, Ijesa and Igbomina soldiers who fought gallantly to successfully prosecute the campaign that is recorded as the longest civil war in Nigeria’s history. Their motto was “Agbajopo owo ni a fi nsoya” meaning … “in unity lies strength.”
Spurred by the independence achieved through the barrel of the gun, Ekiti elite under the aegis of the Ekiti National Association (ENA) and Ekiti Progressive Union (EPU) dreamt of founding a post-primary educational institution to engender the intellectual growth of Ekiti people and, by extension, reinforce their political independence.
The school, Ekiti Parapo College, which also appropriated the motto of the warriors – “Agbajopo Owo” – therefore, institutionally embodied the well-known characteristic of Ekiti people as a united group imbued with several sterling qualities, notably: integrity, honesty, industry, reliability and hospitability.
Owing to the exigencies of history, Ekiti Parapo College, Ido Ekiti, became the first and only Ekiti-wholly owned community post-primary educational institution built on the dreams of all Ekiti sons and daughters. Thus, the College remains historically the symbol of the unity of Ekiti people.
Chief Adepoju Akomolafe, a cerebral, articulate and charismatic gentleman from Ido-Faboro-Ekiti was appointed the first principal of Ekiti Parapo College. The College took off with 25 pioneer students, the Principal and two teachers. By his appointment as Principal, the proprietors of Ekiti Parapo College hit on pure gold as he brought to bear his wealth of experience as a teacher in one of the leading schools in Lagos.
Right from the outset, the College maintained a tradition of academic excellence; thanks to Chief Akomolafe who was passionate about the growth and development of the college. He was uncompromising in his commitment to attracting the best calibre of staff and students.
It is noteworthy that Ekiti Parapo College in its early years stood tall among all post-primary institutions in the neighboring towns. Most evident was that the pioneer students at the College wrote the West African School Certificate Examinations (WASCE) in 1959 after only five years in the college, whereas students of other institutions spent at least six years before being presented for WASCE.
In 1963, the College became a co-educational school when it admitted its first set of female students. This was in keeping with the objective of the founding fathers to educate boys and girls in the College.
In 70 years, the efforts of the founding fathers and the good people of Ekiti who rallied round to support the College for many years have been vindicated. Ekiti Parapo College, Ido Ekiti, has continued to play a leadership role in the development and growth of Ekiti State, Nigeria and the world. The College has produced globally renowned scholars, and professionals in all spheres of human endeavour.
In name and in fact, Ekiti Parapo College, Ido Ekiti is our Commonwealth and a great symbol of Ekiti unity that needs to be nurtured and preserved. Thanks to the ceaseless, seamless and forward-looking contributions of the Ekiti Parapo College Old Students Association (EPCOSA), the College has an identifiable and enviable historical past, an evolutionary present and indeed a foreseeable glorious future.