Gov. Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State said that his administration would continue to reward persons who had made the state proud in any sphere of human endeavour.
The governor gave the assurance in Akure on Thursday at a reception organised by the government for some students and athletes who won medals for the state at national and international competitions.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that not less than 100 outstanding students and athletes, who excelled in academic and sporting competitions, were honoured at the event.
Mimiko underscored his government’s commitment to promoting hard work, expressing the hope that the recognition would further stimulate the awards’ recipients to continue to make the state proud in their future undertakings.
The governor, who was represented by Dr Aderotimi Adelola, the Secretary to the State Government said: “This event is a clear demonstration of our viewpoint that hard work always yield good dividends.
“The students we are celebrating today have worked hard to distinguish themselves in various competitions, not only among their colleagues in the state but also at the national and international levels.
“’The great success of our children is not unconnected with the massive investments of the present administration in the education sector.
“’This is to also motivate others to always be alive to their duties and work harder,’’ Mimiko said.
Mr Remi Olatubura, the Commissioner for Education, said that some of the awardees were honoured for their outstanding performances in the 2010 National Junior Olympiad, the Junior Engineer, Technician and Scientist (JETS) National Competition, the 2011 National Sports Festival and the National Mathematics Quiz contest.
He said that others recorded exceptional performances in the 2011 South-West Science Competition, the state’s Debate and Quiz Competition and the Governor’s Inter-Secondary School Debate Competitions