The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Adebayo Abdulrahman Babalola mni, has commissioned three blocks of upgraded smart classrooms at Command Secondary School (CSS) Ipaja, Lagos. The GOC equally unveiled the rechristened Senior Secondary Three (SS3) block, as Major General Adetokunbo Fayemiwo Block.
Describing the work done as a giant leap from analogue to digital, the GOC noted that the upgraded classrooms would provide a more conducive and technologically driven environment for learning and impartation of knowledge. He stated that the upgrade, occasioned by the renovation work, is in tandem with the Robust Administration pillar of the command philosophy of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu NAM. Major General Babalola therefore charged the students, teachers/staff and management of CSS Lagos to put to judicious use the facilities which have been added to enhance academic excellence.
In a remark, Major General Adetokunbo Fayemiwo (Rtd) thanked the COAS, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu NAM, for the honour done to him by the approval of the renaming of the block in his honour. He recounted his sojourn in CSS Lagos as far back as 1995 when he served as bursar of the school. He subsequently appreciated the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede GCOR AFM mni, and former late Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja CFR, for their efforts in the absorption of teaching staff for all Command Secondary Schools, which has gone a long way to improve the quality of teaching staff and output in examinations of Command Secondary Schools nationwide.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Commandant of Command Secondary School, Lagos, Lieutenant Colonel Olufemi Olagbende, stated that he was inspired to embark on the project in order to make the learning environment more interesting, interactive, visual technology driven and prepare the students for the twenty-first century learning environment and economy. He added that already, the teachers have been trained in the new technology and are ready to go.
The Commandant commended the Alumni Association of the school for its proposal to reconstruct the existing hall of the school. He noted that the intention of the Alumni was borne out of love and appreciation for their alma mater. He observed that the proposal was in tune with global best practice where alumni of an institution usually return to contribute meaningfully to the growth and development of their alma mater.
Highpoint of the ceremony was the commissioning of the three blocks of classrooms consisting of sixteen (16) classrooms, five (5) staff rooms and conveniences. Group photographs with the enthusiastic staff and students of the school alongside the dignitaries who graced the occasion also added colour to the ceremony.
