By Oshiomhole R I
The Air Force Comprehensive School (AFCS), Ibadan, has once again etched its name in the annals of academic excellence after emerging as the Third Overall Best Secondary School in Nigeria, according to the National Examinations Council (NECO).
The prestigious recognition was confirmed during NECO’s 25th Anniversary Celebration held in Abuja, where the school was honoured for its outstanding performance in the Senior School Certificate Examination (Internal) spanning 2000 to 2025.
The achievement marks yet another significant milestone in the school’s illustrious history and reinforces its enduring reputation as one of Nigeria’s leading centres of learning, discipline, and character formation.
In a congratulatory message to the students, staff, and parents of the institution, the 23rd Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Distinguished Flying Star Air Marshal SK Aneke, described the award as a reflection of the growing prestige of Nigerian Air Force educational institutions in delivering quality education and raising future leaders equipped with sound values and academic excellence.
The Air Force Chief noted that the recognition further demonstrates the Nigerian Air Force’s unwavering commitment to human capital development and the creation of conducive learning environments across its schools nationwide.
He commended the school management, teachers, students, parents and alumni for their dedication, discipline, and collective sacrifice, urging them to sustain the culture of excellence for which the institution is renowned. Air Marshal Aneke also reaffirmed the Nigerian Air Force’s commitment to supporting initiatives that will continue to strengthen academic and extracurricular development in all NAF schools.
Since its establishment on 28 December 1991, AFCS Ibadan has consistently distinguished itself in both academic and sporting competitions at national and international levels. Over the years, the school has earned several awards in prestigious competitions, including the International Junior Science Olympiad, International Physics and Mathematics Olympiad, International Young Physicist Tournament, and the Cowbell Mathematics Competition.
Beyond the awards and recognitions, AFCS Ibadan has built a tradition rooted in moral and academic discipline, resilience, and excellence – values that continue to shape generations of students into worthy ambassadors of the institution and the nation at large.
Receiving the award on behalf of the school was the Commandant, Group Captain Frank Yusuf. Also present at the ceremony was the representative of the Director of Education, Headquarters Nigerian Air Force, Group Captain Gabriel Shainjo, alongside members of the National Examinations Council (NECO) management team, academics, and representatives of educational institutions from across the country.
The “Jewels of the Jungle,” as fondly called, students of AFCS Ibadan proudly carry a nickname that reflects both the school’s unique environment and the exceptional quality of its students. Situated along the Ibadan–Iwo Highway within a serene, forested setting, the term was coined by the school’s early Commandants to describe the students as brilliant “jewels” flourishing within the “jungle” of Iyana-Offa, Ibadan Oyo-State.
Today, that identity remains more than just a nickname. It is a symbol of pride, resilience, excellence, and the enduring spirit of a military academic institution that continues to glow brightly on Nigeria’s struggling educational landscape.
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Oshiomhole Richard Inumah is the Assistant General Secretary, Guild of Public Affairs Analysts of Nigeria (GPAAN)
