Olufunke Aladejare
The Ekiti Parapo of Indiana, USA, has awarded a N1,000,000 scholarship to Miss Daniella Owoeye for scoring the highest mark in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME.
The presentation was made on Monday in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, by the President of Ekiti Parapo of Indiana, USA, Deacon Abiodun Falodun.
The ceremony was attended by the Chairman, House Committee on Education, Hon. Adeyemi Awoniyi, the Obaleo of Erimope-Ekiti, Oba Sunday Aniyi, parents, and members of the association.
Falodun said the award was to recognize excellence and to encourage academic achievement among Ekiti youths.
Daniella scored 372, the highest score nationally in the 2026 UTME.
“Your success is a shining example to thousands of young people that excellence is attainable through dedication, perseverance, and a commitment to learning,” he said.
“This award is more than financial support. It is our way of recognizing your hard work and expressing our confidence that you will continue to excel and become one of the future leaders who will make Nigeria proud.”
He commended Daniella’s parents for their sacrifice and support, and acknowledged the role of government and traditional institutions in promoting education in the state.
“Education remains the greatest investment any society can make. At Ekiti Parapo of Indiana, USA, we believe that every brilliant child deserves encouragement, irrespective of background,” Falodun stated.
He urged Daniella to remain humble and focused, and charged other students in Ekiti to pursue academic excellence.
In his remarks, Hon. Adeyemi Awoniyi said excelling in life requires concerted effort.“So many candidates sat for the same exam, but Daniella scored 372. By that, she had the highest score as far as the 2026 UTME is concerned. For that, Daniella has excelled,” he said.
Awoniyi noted that since 2013, Daniella is the second person to attain the feat in the history of Nigeria, after Chinedu Okoro who scored 375. He appreciated her parents for providing an enabling environment and commended the Erimope community for having a focused traditional ruler.
He added that although Daniella did not attend school in Ekiti, she has demonstrated herself to be a good ambassador of the state.
“You have come to contribute to the progress of education in Ekiti to complement the wonderful work that Governor Biodun Oyebanji is doing in the education sector. Government alone cannot do everything,” Awoniyi said.
His Royal Majesty, Oba Sunday Aniyi, the Obaleo of Erimope-Ekiti, charged Daniella to sustain her academic excellence and not be carried away by early success.
The monarch said Daniella’s progress from 293 in the 2025 UTME to 372 in 2026 was proof that delays are not denials, but opportunities for greater placement.
“Even with 293 she could have gained admission to study any course in Nigeria, including medicine. But God knows that the glory that will catapult her to the world is better this year,” he said.
“I am sure that with this 372, many universities in Nigeria and even outside Nigeria will be willing to offer her scholarship to study any course of her choice.”
Oba Aniyi emphasized the role of parents in raising children of character.
“Children are a reflection of who we are. We know children of professors who are a disappointment. We know children of pastors and bishops who are wayward. It takes a lot of effort to raise exemplary children,” he said.
He challenged Daniella to maintain distinction from 100 level to graduation.
“The importance of this celebration is that it keeps you on your toes. I am challenging you from your first course in 100 level to the last one, I want to see distinction all through,” the monarch said.
The father of the celebrant, Mr. Joseph Owoeye, expressed appreciation to the Ekiti Parapo of Indiana, USA, the Ekiti State Government, and the Erimope monarch for their support. He described the recognition as love from home.
“I am proud, especially on this day, to be called an Ekiti man. What Daniella is enjoying today is highly amazing, and it is love from home. Thank you very much for the love,” he said.
He commended the administration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji for its investment in public education, describing it as next to none in Nigeria.
He also acknowledged Oba Sunday Aniyi for his consistent support since 2025, when Daniella scored 293 but could not secure admission into her preferred course.
“Because God’s time is always the best, Daniella could not secure admission last year. But to the glory of God, He makes all things beautiful in His own time,” he said.
In her response, Miss Daniella Owoeye thanked the association for the award, saying it had motivated her to do more.
“Thank you. This really made my day. This made me feel cherished. I pray that the source will continue to be blessed,” she said.
The ceremony was attended by family, friends, and well-wishers.
