Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has disclosed plans by his administration to establish a Values Academy in the state as a way of restoring the lost core values which Ekiti people are known for.

The government’s decision was made knownon Tuesday in Ado-Ekiti just as the Ekiti Council of Elders at a meeting with the governor urged him to “vigorously pursue” the restoration of Ekitivalues and dignity.

The Council’s President, Prof. Joseph Oluwasanmi, who presented a copy of a book titled ‘Omoluabi’ to Dr Fayemi, urged the governor to inculcate values orientation into the State’s schools curriculum.

“From time to time, we have been involved in advocacy to effect attitudinal changes towards imbibing and sustaining Ekiti core values.

“We remember with gladness your thrust during your first term to revive and sustain the Ekiti values and dignity; the slogan Ile Iyi, Ile Eye readily comes to mind. Your Excellency is prayed to graciously pursue this much more vigorously,” Oluwasanmi said.

Another elderstatesman, Chief Deji Fasuan, also commended Fayemi for standing for the core Ekiti values of integrity, hard work and excellence; saying that the undulating course which the State has faced in recent past “will now be faced straightforward”.

His words: “We knew you, we know you, we will continue to know you. Thank you for the courtesy extended to us, thank you for the help and the appreciation of the little we are doing for the environment. We know that you stand for the values which you and I, and all of us inherited. We have trekked a course undulating in the last few years, we hope the course will now be faced straightforward.”

Fayemi had in his remarks lamented the erosion of the values of the state; saying that the government planned to nip this in the bud by introducing values orientation into the civic education curriculum of primary schools in the State.

The governor who commended the elders for their roles in the creation of Ekiti State in 1996 said though the state is not yet where it should be, the Fayemi-led government would not rest on its oars in ensuring that the State becomes the envy of all.

“The seat I occupy today is the result of the struggle of many of you here. We are not where we should be but we have made considerable progress. A lot of what you shared with us formed some of the pillars of this government,” he said.

While reacting to the request for the rehabilitation of Ado-Akure road, the governor explained that he had approached the African Development Bank for the dualisation of the road since the provision made by the Federal government for the road was not adequate to dualise it.