By Nkechi Eze
NNSS Abeokuta Holds Colourful Passing Out Parade for 31st Set of Graduating Students
The Nigerian Navy Secondary School (NNSS), Abeokuta, on Saturday, July 26, 2025, held a grand Passing Out Parade (POP) ceremony for the 31st graduating set of students, marking the end of the 2024/2025 academic session. A total of 151 students took part in the event, which was held at the school’s parade ground amidst pomp, pageantry, and heartfelt celebrations.
The Special Guest of Honour and Reviewing Officer, Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral MG Oamen, Grand Service Star, was represented at the ceremony by the Commander Naval Base Epe, Captain SO Ohunenese. In his address, Captain Ohunenese congratulated the graduating students for their successful completion of studies and urged them to carry forward the values of discipline, integrity, and excellence instilled in them throughout their stay at the naval institution.
“As you step into the next phase of your lives, may you continue to uphold the discipline and resilience you have developed here. These qualities will guide you towards greatness,” he said.
The representative of the Flag Officer Commanding also commended the school’s Commandant, Commander OW Toba-Ogunmola, for his exemplary leadership and the smooth running of the school. He further appreciated the dedication of the officers, ratings, academic staff, and parents, whose collective effort, he noted, ensured the success of the students and the overall growth of the institution during the academic session.
The ceremony featured a well-coordinated silent drill display by the graduating students, showcasing the precision and discipline that are hallmarks of naval training. The audience, which included parents, dignitaries, and special guests, applauded the cadet-like performance that reflected months of physical and mental grooming.
One of the major highlights of the event was the presentation of awards to outstanding students in various academic and leadership categories. Notably, the Ex-Navy Boys of the 1995 Detachment made a generous donation in honour of the occasion. The alumni group presented plaques and cash prizes to the best-performing students in each subject area, the overall best teacher, and the top three candidates in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), further motivating academic excellence.
The event was attended by several dignitaries, including a representative of the Alake of Egbaland, officials from sister security and paramilitary agencies, and proud parents and guardians who gathered to witness the rite of passage for their wards.
The colourful ceremony came to a close with a group photograph session, after which guests were treated to light refreshments and moments of reflection, camaraderie, and pride.
