The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin has commended the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) for its commitment and investment in the education sector. The CDS gave the commendation at the commissioning of a storey building constructed by the association to augment existing structures and facilities of its Creche, Nursery, Primary and Secondary Schools in Mogadishu Cantonment, Abuja. The project is part of efforts to provide quality and affordable education for children residing within the barracks and its environ.
The construction of the new building which was single handedly executed by DEPOWA and furnished with state of the art learning aids and other facilities consists of classrooms for the Senior Secondary, Offices and Science Laboratory on the first floor, while the ground floor houses a 1000 capacity multipurpose hall.
The CDS who was the Guest of Honour at the occasion, commended DEPOWA for consistently driving and supporting educational growth of children and wards of personnel of the Armed Forces, noting that the successful completion of the school project is a testament to the dynamism and authentication of the commitment of DEPOWA to the promotion of education and improvement of the welfare of families of the Armed Forces and the Nigerian Police. General Olonisakin noted that the association’s achievements in the areas of social and educational intervention have benefited both the military and civil society at large.
The CDS stated that the new e-library and science laboratory will acquiant the pupils and students with the global trend in science and technology. He pledged the commitment of the Defence Headquarters towards supporting the Association’s noble endeavours.
The DEPOWA President, Mrs Omobolanle Olonisakin, in her welcome remark, said the construction of the building and provision of modern teaching equipment in the school were evidences of the Association’s priority for education and social welfare services.
She expressed the Association’s commitment towards achieving its mandate of building educational institutions with facilities that would conveniently compete with its contemporaries globally. Mrs Olonisakin identified conducive environment as key to learning, adding that education provides requisite platforms for knowledge and skills acquisition.
According to her, “DEPOWA’s grand plan is to transform the institutions curriculum into an enviable blend of academic and vocational studies, supported by state of the art facilities.’’
Mrs Olonisakin disclosed that the newly established electronic library at the DEPOWA School has over 1,000 electronic books which could be freely accessed online by students, staff and the general public with internet connectivity.
Other facilities also provided at the DEPOWA School by the current leadership include: Close Circuit Cameras (CCTV) and Public Address System amongst others.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai and the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas were among other dignitaries at the commissioning.
