The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has commissioned a fully furnished 30 seat computer laboratory at Agunbiade Victory High School, Magbon, Abeokuta, Ogun State, under the Nigerian Army’s Civil Military Cooperation Special Intervention Project.
The facility, equipped with high speed internet access and a solar power system, is designed to expand students’ access to digital learning, research and technology driven education.
Represented at the commissioning by the General Officer Commanding, 81 Division Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen. Adebayo Abdulrahman Babalola, the COAS said the intervention was timely and significant to the educational development of students in the school and adjoining communities.
Shaibu said the project would provide a conducive environment for teaching, learning, research and innovation, while improving computer literacy and digital skills among beneficiaries.
He urged the school management, community leaders and other stakeholders to take ownership of the facility, stressing the need for adequate security, routine maintenance and responsible use to ensure its sustainability.
According to him, the impact of the project should extend beyond the physical infrastructure by promoting knowledge sharing, creating opportunities and contributing to the development of a more productive and technologically empowered community.
The project benefactor, Maj. Gen. Ismail Dapo Oloyede, expressed appreciation to God and the Chief of Army Staff for supporting an initiative aimed at giving back to his alma mater.
Oloyede said Agunbiade Victory High School played an important role in shaping his life through the values, discipline and education he received there. He expressed optimism that the computer laboratory would become a platform for learning, creativity, innovation and personal development.
The Chief of Civil Military Affairs, Maj. Gen. Mohammed Etsu IndagI, said the intervention reflected the Nigerian Army’s commitment to strengthening its relationship with host communities.
Indagi explained that the COAS CIMIC Special Intervention Project was designed to honour senior military officers, particularly Major Generals, in recognition of their service to the nation and the communities that contributed to their development. He said projects under the scheme cover education, healthcare, potable water, roads, bridges and other community needs.
He added that the 30 seat laboratory, supported by solar power and high speed internet, would enable students to develop computer skills, access digital educational resources, conduct research and build confidence in using technology. The renewable energy component, he said, would also provide a dependable power source for the facility.
The Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, commended the intervention, saying contributions from corporate organisations, individuals and old students were helping to revitalise education in the state. He described the provision of computers, internet access and solar power as a deliberate effort to ensure that the school kept pace with modern educational requirements.
The ceremony was attended by serving and retired senior military officers, officials of the Ogun State Ministry of Education, traditional rulers, members of the Old Students Association, teachers and students. The event featured goodwill messages, cultural performances, commissioning and unveiling of a commemorative plaque, as well as group photographs.