.PRESS RELEASE
DON’T LET US DOWN, LASG CHARGES PRIVATE SCHOOL OWNERS
… Presents Provisional Approval Letters to 75 New School Owners
The Lagos State Government has charged newly approved private school owners to uphold the highest standards of curriculum delivery, discipline, and compliance with the State’s educational guidelines.
Speaking at the official presentation of Provisional Approval Certificates to 75 new private school operators on Thursday at the NUT Pavilion, Alausa, Ikeja, the Honourable Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun, reiterated the State’s commitment to quality education across both public and private schools.
He explained that the issuance of the provisional certificates followed a rigorous accreditation exercise to ensure that schools meet the minimum requirements in infrastructure, curriculum delivery, safety, and staff quality.
According to him, the move is part of efforts to sanitize the education sector and promote excellence in learning outcomes, stressing that education remains a critical pillar of Lagos State’s development.
Commending OEQA for its dedication in completing the registration and documentation process, the Commissioner urged the school owners to work in synergy with government policies, employ only qualified teachers certified by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), and ensure strict adherence to safety guidelines.
“Make sure you don’t keep information from the Ministry for your own safety. Employ only competent teachers with good conduct. And when evaluators come around, don’t shut your school gates against them, it sends wrong signals about what is going on in your schools,” Alli-Balogun warned.
On her part, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Mrs. Abisola Dokunmu-Adegbite, congratulated the new school owners and reminded them that their operations must reflect Lagos State’s vision for innovation, inclusiveness, and global competitiveness.
She emphasized that the provisional approval is not a license for complacency but an opportunity to demonstrate commitment to raising well-rounded pupils, while assuring that periodic monitoring by OEQA officials would continue.
The Permanent Secretary reminded the school owners that approval is not just a certificate to be displayed but a seal of trust and responsibility covering infrastructure, staffing, governance, learner safety, and child protection.
Giving a breakdown of the approvals, the Coordinating Director, OEQA, Mr. Remi Abdul, disclosed that 292 schools were granted provisional approval in 2024, while 70 schools were approved earlier in February 2025. With the latest 75 approvals, 145 schools have been cleared in two batches this year alone.
He listed benefits of the approval, including full government recognition, eligibility for external examinations such as WAEC and NECO, access to capacity-building programmes, and inclusion in the State’s Education Management Information System (EMIS).
The Coordinating Director, OEQA also used the occasion to remind proprietors of the forthcoming State-wide enumeration exercise of all private schools, which he said is critical for building a robust EMIS database for Lagos State.
He urged all stakeholders to cooperate fully with enumerators to ensure accurate data that would guide government interventions in infrastructure, teacher supply, and examination logistics.
Mr. Abdul, however, cautioned proprietors against non-compliance, stressing that approvals cannot be transferred to other owners without OEQA’s authorization.
He also noted that schools intending to operate hostels must apply separately for approval.
“It is important to undertake training on safeguarding and child protection and domesticate these principles in your schools for teachers, students, and stakeholders,” he added.
The representative of the Lagos State Examinations Board, Mr. Gbadebo Israel, congratulated the school owners and advised them to approach the Board for guidance on processes required to enable their students sit for State examinations.
Similarly, the Director, Schools Approval Unit, Mrs. Kehinde Ogunlana, acknowledged the cooperation of the new proprietors during the approval process and urged them to remain compliant with OEQA standards.
Responding on behalf of the recipients, one of the school proprietors, Mr. Mustapha Adewunmi Waheed, expressed gratitude to the State Government for its supportive policies.
He pledged that the schools would continue to deliver quality education that meets both national and international benchmarks.
The highlight of the event was the formal presentation of provisional approval certificates to the new school owners by the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, the Coordinating Director of OEQA, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Opeyemi Eniola, representatives of SUBEB and the Examinations Board, among others.
Adepeju Adeyemi
Deputy Director, Public Affairs, OEQA
26-09-2025.
