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The short answer
Private nursery, primary and secondary schools in Nigeria are approved by the state government where they operate, not by a federal body. In Lagos the Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA) grants approval under the State Guidelines on the Establishment and Operation of Private Schools; ask the school for its approval letter and approval number, then confirm it with the state ministry or OEQA before paying fees.
Who approves private schools
Basic and secondary education is largely a state responsibility, so each state runs its own approval system for private schools. The office and the name vary. In Lagos, approvals are presented by the Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA) working with the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education. Other states use their ministry of education or a quality assurance agency; Abuja schools deal with the FCT education authorities.
Approval matters for practical reasons as well as legal ones. An unapproved school may struggle to register pupils for public examinations, may close suddenly after enforcement, and leaves parents with little recourse. Our guides on OEQA approval in Lagos and FCTA approval in Abuja cover the process from the proprietor's side.
How Lagos approval works in practice
In February 2026, Radio Nigeria Lagos reported that OEQA had approved 76 private schools in the first batch of that year: 34 secondary schools, 41 nursery and primary schools and one boarding secondary school. The schools were approved after meeting the requirements of the State Guidelines on the Establishment and Operation of Private Schools. OEQA's Director-General said approvals would run quarterly, with a target of at least 100 schools per quarter.
The same report shows what approval is meant to cover: the schools were approved after meeting the requirements of the state's published guidelines on establishing and operating private schools. Approval is therefore evidence that the school has been checked against those requirements, not just that it has paperwork.
Two points follow for parents. First, approval comes in batches, so a new school may legitimately be 'awaiting approval'. Second, a school that has been running for years and still says it is awaiting approval should be asked why.
What to ask the school for
- Approval letter
- Issued by the state ministry or quality assurance office, naming the school and its address.
- Approval or registration number
- Lets you confirm with the state office.
- Levels approved
- Nursery, primary, secondary and boarding are separate. A school approved for primary may not be approved for secondary.
- Address on the approval
- Approval is for specific premises. A branch at another address needs its own.
- Examination centre status
- For secondary schools, ask whether pupils sit WAEC, NECO or state examinations at the school or elsewhere.
How to confirm, step by step
- Ask the school, in writing, for its approval letter and number and the levels approved.
- Check the name and address on the letter match the school's signboard and fee invoice.
- Contact the state ministry or quality assurance office using details from the state government's own website, and ask them to confirm. In Lagos, that is OEQA or the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education.
- Ask other parents and the school's PTA how long it has been approved.
- For secondary schools, confirm with the examination body or school how pupils are registered for external exams. The Lagos State Examinations Board's representative, at the February 2026 event, advised school owners to get information directly from the Board rather than unverified sources; parents can do the same.
Warning signs
- Cannot show an approval letter, or shows one for a different address.
- Calls itself 'approved' on the basis of CAC registration only. A CAC certificate shows the business exists; it is not education approval.
- Runs secondary classes when approved only for primary.
- Pupils are registered for external exams through another school without telling parents.
- Fees must be paid in cash or to a proprietor's personal account.
Questions to ask on the school visit
Approval is a floor, not a judgement of quality. Once you have confirmed it, use the visit to test whether the school runs the way its approval suggests.
- How many pupils are in each class, and how many teachers are qualified and registered? Our guide to verifying a teacher with TRCN explains how to check.
- What is the full list of fees and levies for the term, including books, uniforms, development levies and exam fees, and when is each due?
- What is the refund policy if a child leaves mid-term?
- Who owns the premises, and is the lease long enough to cover your child's time there?
- What safeguarding policy does the school have, and who handles complaints?
A school that answers clearly and in writing is usually one that has nothing to hide from the state inspectors either. Ask for the fee schedule on headed paper and keep it with your receipts.
Where Pryme fits
Schools are one of the Spaces sectors in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt. With Loans on Spaces, lent by Solid Allianze MFB, a parent may be offered a limit that can only be spent with Spaces merchants such as participating schools; the full agreement is shown before they accept (Loans on Spaces). An approved school with a Pryme Business Account can apply to join Spaces.
Questions people ask
How do I know if a private school in Lagos is approved?
Ask for the school's approval letter and number, then confirm with the Lagos State Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA) or the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education.
Is CAC registration enough for a private school?
No. CAC registration shows the business is registered. Education approval comes from the state government.
Is there a list of approved private schools in Lagos?
Lagos announces approvals in batches, for example 76 schools in February 2026. We did not find a full public online list, so confirm with OEQA directly.
What happens if my child's school is not approved?
Ask the school when it applied and its current status, and confirm with the state. An unapproved school risks closure and exam registration problems.
Sources
- Lagos approves 76 private schools, reinforces zero tolerance for education-related vices (Radio Nigeria Lagos, 6 Feb 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- NITDA: .gov.ng domain registration (for finding official state pages) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.