from Oluseye Ojo, Ibadan
air Force Comprehensive School (AFCS), Iyana-Offa, Ibadan, Oyo State, was established on December 28, 1991, when the then Military Administrator, Colonel Abdul-Kareem Adisa, handed over a vacated Teachers’ Training College to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).
The school was established in response to the idea conceived by the leadership of NAF to establish her first co-educational boarding school in Ibadan. Real academic work started on January 10, 1992.
The school had won several academic laurels. They included International Junior Science Olympiad, International Physics Mathematics Olympiad, International Young Physicist Tournament and Mathematics Cowbell Competition.
Over the past 25 years, the school produced many experts and gurus in all aspects of life. But one thing that could cause major setback for the training and academic performance of the students was discovered in the second week of December 2016.
It was a day the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, paid operational visit to the 53 NAF Detachment, Ibadan, during which he inspected the facilities at the AFCS.
Barely six months later, senior military officers both serving and retired, as well as top government officials were brought back to the school for commissioning of a solar-powered electrical system
The 2 Mechanised Division, Nigerian Army, Odogbo, Ibadan, was represented as well as other paramilitary organisations. The project would be replicated in all NAF schools in the country.
Commander, 517 Nigerian Air Force Detachment, Ibadan, Air Commodore Emmanuel Akinbayo, promised that the detachment would ensure effective utilisation of the project:
“Ever since the establishment of the school, it has grappled with myriads of challenges. These include but not limited to irregular power supply and inadequate infrastructure, among others. However, there has been a great departure from the stagnated posture of this school since the present leadership of the NAF came on board almost two years ago.
“In line with the desire to ensure optimal service delivery, the present administration of the NAF under the visionary leadership of Air Marshal SB Abubakar deems it necessary to rejuvenate the school. The acute infrastructural deficiency was addressed headlong, which led to the construction of two blocks of four classrooms each in the school, the construction of collapsed fence and the installations of Solar Power Systems in the school.
“The solar systems will greatly boost the provision of water supply and electricity for the students and staff of the school, thereby improving the standard of academic learning and living condition of the children.
“We will indeed forever be grateful to our amiable CAS for committing so much to ensure that we are adequately supported in order to be able to efficiently and effectively carry out our statutory duties.”
The Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Logistics Command, Ikeja, Lagos, Ibrahim Yahaya, said the project has put the school in high pedestal above its contemporaries. He urged the administrators to ensure that the students derive maximum benefit from the project by ensuring that the students will not vandalise the project:
“Without adequate and regular supply of electricity, the modern day education, especially in boarding schools such as AFCS, Ibadan may prove to be very difficult if not impossible. AFCS Ibadan has been experiencing epileptic power supply for a long time.
“This problem may impact negatively on the performance and wellbeing of the students if not addressed on time. It is in view of this, the CAS, in his passion for academic excellence and love for education of our children, approved the provision of solar power for this school to address the lingering problem of electricity system.
“The project is a hybrid solar system designed to produce 80 per cent solar power while the 20 per cent is augmented by a dedicated generator. This would ensure a round the clock electricity supply for lights and fans only at the boys’ hostel, girls’ hostel, the hospital, the administrative block and the classrooms.
“Efforts are ongoing to procure a new 82KVA generator to complement the hybrid solar system. It is a pilot project and first of its kind in any NAF school. Therefore, AFCS Ibadan must consider itself very lucky to be the first among the best.”
Air Vice Marshal Bashiru Suara (retd), who was the guest of honour stated that the project would enhance the nocturnal and learning activities of the students and the overall performance of the school: “It is worthy of note, however, that the developmental pace of this school is not limited to power supply, there are other projects which would be completed soonest.
“The commissioning of this project is a testament that the present leadership of NAF is taking diverse steps to move all NAF schools forward. There is also plan in the pipeline to put in place other unique welfare and empowerment initiatives across other NAF schools in the country.”
Suara noted with nostalgia the humble beginning of AFCS Ibadan:
“This project will undoubtedly boost the instructional and learning activities as well as enhance the overall academic performance of the School.
“It is worthy of note that the developmental change on this school is not limited to power supply. It also covers the area of provision of modern classrooms with state-of-the-art classrooms furniture for the whole school.
“This shows that the present leadership of the NAF is taking diverse steps to move the NAF schools forward. I was also informed that the current leadership is implementing some other unique welfare and empowerment initiatives across other NAF schools. It is so gratifying to see the rapid pace at which the service is developing, against all odds.”
Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof Joseph Olowofela, who represented Governor Abiola Ajimobi lauded CAS for approving the project, saying the project would add bite to the smooth running of the school. Akinbayo promised that the detachment would double its efforts to justify the enormous resources that the CAS committed to the school.