Oba Rufus Adebayo of Obbo-Ile, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara, has pledged to pay the West African School Certificate Examinations (WASCE) fees of the students of Community Comprehensive High School in the town.

Adebayo made the pledge on Saturday at the inauguration of an ultra modern N25 million community hall provided by the Federal Government on the platform of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Adebayo decried the deplorable standard of education in the area and said the gesture was part of his contribution to develop education in the community.

''This small token will assist the students immensely and allow their parents to use their resources for other pressing needs,'' he said.

Adebayo also commended the Federal Government for the town hall project and appealed for the provision of equipment for the community health centre.

The principal of the college, Mr Kayode Ogunlade, lauded the gesture of the traditional ruler and said Adebayo had also built a lodge for National Youth Corps Service (NYSC) members in the town.

The spokesperson for the community, Chief Olorunisola Ojo, said Adebayo's gesture would be complemented by the indigenes of the town.

''Some indigenes had signified their intention to award N5, 000 to each of the best students of the college in all subjects for the next five years,'' he announced.

The chairman of the council, Mr Bode Oyinloye, reiterated the government's commitment to promoting health and education development in the area.

The News Agency Nigeria (NAN) reports that 17 students of the college received letters confirming the payments of their WASCE fees from Adebayo on the occasion.

The highpoint of the occasion included the conferment of chieftaincy title of Apesin-Ola of Obbo-Ile on the Managing Director of the Infrastructure Bank Plc, Chief Adekunle Oyinloye.

Dignitaries who attended the occasion included retired Maj.-Gen. Abubakar Atofarati, the Acting Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Chief Jide Adebayo, and the executive directors of Infrastructure Bank Plc, Mr Akeem Olopade and Mr Taiwo Dauda.