Nigerian Navy Secondary School, Abeokuta

The Nigerian Navy Secondary School Abeokuta, is a secondary school located in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria. It was founded in 1990 but the first set of students resumed on 2 Mar 1991.

Background

As at 1990, it became evident that the children of personnel seeking admission in the only secondary school of the Nigerian Navy at Ojo was becoming too large for the school. Many states were contacted by the Nigerian Navy on assistance for a site. The then Governor of Ogun State, a naval personnel himself, Navy Captain Mohammed Lawal, invited the Nigerian Navy to consider a location of the defunct St Leo's Teachers' Training College at Ibara Abeokuta (www.nnssab.net)on a hilly Onikolobo site. This premises had been abandoned and merely serve as a route to the Catholic Compound and was also used for administering a newly conceived secondary school in that name. The Nigerian Navy considered the site and found it suitable. A team of officers headed by Commodore SO Lawuyi, the Chief of Naval Education, Lt Cdr SEA Olamilokun, SO 1 Education at Naval Headquarters, SLt Nelson Demebide and a civilian architect, were sent to receive the compound. The team took inventories of the facilities at the site and made recommendations for its renovations.

Historical Perspective

Nigerian Navy Secondary School, Abeokuta was founded on 2 Feb 1991 and is sited at the former St Leo's Teachers' College at Ibara Abeokuta, Ogun State of Nigeria. At the handing over ceremony on that day, the Ogun State Military Governor, Navy Captain Oladeinde Joseph, commended the Nigerian Navy for bringing a model secondary school to Abeokuta. The then Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Murtala Nyako implored the school to train the children who would excel in all. He emphasized that the Nigerian Navy Secondary School Abeokuta, although a civilian secondary school, should be seen as the Nigerian Navy's equivalent of a military school and should be run as such.

First Students

The school started with 623 students admitted into Junior Secondary 1 and Junior Secondary School 2. The pioneer commandant was Lieutenant Commander SEA Olamilokun who took over command of the school on 20 Nov 1990. The first Executive Officer was Lieutenant SJ Ajiboye. Many of the pioneering staff were Mrs OA Okunneye, Miss Nwogbo, Mr Osinowo, Mr. Oladele and Mr Agoreyo. Other members of staff were SLt Chukwu, Mrs Salako, Mrs Ajimati and Mr Adesanya.

The first date of any student at school was 3 Mar 91. NNSS Abeokuta is an all boys all boarding school with mild military activities, mainly drills.

The Ogun State Government, under the administration of Navy Captain Mohammed Lawal, initiated the complete renovation of all the existing buildings and the major roads in the compound. It also provided an alternative bye pass to the priest house.

The NN appointed the first commandant to the school on 20 Nov 90. The new commandant, Lt Cdr SEA Olamilokun, assumed duties and moved to the compound with his key staff officers. On February 2 1991, the new Governor of the State, Governor Deinde Joseph handed over the school formally to the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral MAH Nyako. It is instructive to note that many senior officers were present at the handing over ceremony. The Governor of Oyo State, Col Adisa who was present promised to build a Guard House for the School, while the Ogun State Government promised to refurbish 3 vehicles for use of the school and refurbish its administrative block. Navy Captain Olukoya, the Governor of Ondo State promised to donate a staff car for the commandant and provide a bus for the students. All the promises were fulfilled.

Current State

Now the school has a student strength of 1060, these pupils are called "navy boys". The students are divided into four houses:

• Blue house (Aikomu house)
• Green house (Nyako house)
• Purple house (Koshoni house)
• Red house (Omotsola house originally called Kennedy house)

These houses are all named after famous navy officers of the country, each house has 4 divisions in them so that there are a total of 16 divisions in the whole school (divisions "ALPHA" to "PAPA"). The youngest students start at the first set of four divisions and as they progress in their academic years, they also progress in division groups.

The daily routines of the students are as follows:- 05:30 - time to muster for daily assignments (chores or otherwise) 05:45 - students go for physical training (involves mandatory jogging for miles) 07:00 - students go to the dining hall (which students call "galley") for breakfast 08:00 - parade time which involves flying the flag, messages from the commandant and marchpast 08:45 - lesson begin 14:00 - lessons end 14:05 - lunch time 15:00 - siesta and guard officers patrol 16:00 - afternoon prep (for homeworks and class assignments) 17:00 - student's free time, training, activities, laundry or labour duties 19:00 - dinner time 20:00 - evening prep 21:00 - end of prep for js1 - js3 (alpha - hotel divisions) 21:30 - end of prop for ss1 - ss3 (India - papa divisions) lights out for js1 - js3 22:00 - lights out the whole school.

(schedules and activities differ according to days of the week for different year groups and divisions)

Nigerian Navy Secondary School (a.k.a NNSS) focuses mainly on hardwork and discipline which is the school motto and the students believe firmly in the Nigerian Navy phrase "onward together". They are taught team work hence their slogan "Excel Together".

Entry Requirements

For admission into NNSS, applicants need to be of above average intellectual capabilities: they must excel in their entrance examinations and interview which test on mathematical, linguistic, structural logic (quantitative) and analytical (qualitative) abilities. NNSS is known for producing all around best students which either follow in military order or lead civilian lives.

Old Students

The Old Students came together recently to form Old Boys Association. A new president for the old boys was appointed and the executive formed. Present at the inauguration of the old students inauguration were 3 former commandants, one former XO and the first VP Academics. It was a great reunion of old teachers, students, and present teachers. The present Director of Naval Education, Commodore Olatunji Olawumi was in attendance and so was Commodore SEA Olamilokun, the pioneering Commandant. Captain Isaac Mankilik, the Commandant implored the old student to work for the progress of the School through networking and purposeful participation..

References