Command Secondary School Lagos (CSSL), was established on the 29th September 1977 along with three other pioneer Command schools based in Kaduna, Ibadan and Jos. It took off at the modest temporary site in Bonny Camp, Victoria Island, Lagos where the American International School had vacated. The aim of establishing the school was to execute the AHQ mission of providing qualitative education to children/wards of NA personnel in particular and other members of the Armed Forces and civilian counterparts. CSSL started with a population of 72 students, made up of 45 boys and 27 girls and a staff strength of 5 teaching and 5 non-teaching personnel.
In 1979, the school was relocated to its present permanent site at Ipaja to make room for the increase in students’ population. This was quite a challenge for all stakeholders as they all had to pass through many vicissitudes to ensure an enabling academic environment for the pursuit of academic excellence. In spite of all the hurdles the school has faced since inception, it has gallantly carved a niche for itself among its contemporaries. The school has had 2 pioneer Principals (civilians) and 15 Commandants from inception to date. It has grown in terms of students’ population, staffing, academic excellence and infrastructural development. Under the aegis of the Nigerian Army Education Corps (NAEC), the school has continued to make great strides to maintain its enviable position in its academic pursuits. Not too long ago, the school benefitted from the AHQ under Lieutenant General T. Y. Buratai NAM GSS psc (+) NDC (BD), BA (Hons), MA, MPhil. Amongst the projects carried out were the complete renovation of the Computer Lab/Typing pool complex, renovation of a block of four classrooms complex, construction of 4-compartment toilets for junior boys in the classroom area, renovation of 40 sitting capacity staff room, complete renovation and upgrading of technical workshop complex, renovation of outdoor toilets and bathrooms in the boys’ hostel with complementing borehole, renovation of girls’ hostel and renovation of 2 blocks of outdoor toilets in the girls’ hostel.
THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND FOUNDING CSSL
The idea to set up Command Secondary Schools, fashioned after the Federal Government Colleges (Unity Colleges), was conceived by the Nigerian Army as far back as 1972. These schools were to be fully boarding and co-educational in order that children and wards of Military personnel would continue their education even if their parents were on posting. The schools were sited, one each at the Divisional Headquarters of the existing divisions of the Nigerian Army. Thus, Lagos the Headquarters of the 81 Division, has four Command schools of which CSSL is one.