AI agents for business finance: what they can and can't do
What AI agents can do in bookkeeping, close, collections and compliance today, where a person must stay in charge, and how to judge a product.
The short answer
Private schools in Nigeria need approval from the state government before they operate. In Lagos, the Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA) runs the process: online registration, site visits, approval inspections and a documentation review, after which qualifying schools receive a provisional approval letter. Other states run similar processes through their education ministries.
Who approves private schools
Nursery, primary and secondary education are regulated by state governments, so approval comes from the state where the school will run. In Lagos, the Office of Education Quality Assurance handles registration and inspections, working with the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education and its Private Education and Special Programmes Department. Attestation certificates bearing approved schools' names are issued through the Lagos State Examinations Board.
Lagos has repeatedly called on unapproved schools to register with OEQA, warning that failure to comply may lead to sanctions. Registration also brings benefits: state recognition, access to technical support and updates on education policy.
How the Lagos approval process works
- Online registration: submit details of the proposed school, its proprietor and its premises.
- Site visit: officials inspect the building and location.
- Approval inspection: a fuller assessment against state standards for classrooms, staffing, safety and curriculum.
- Documentation review: your papers are checked in detail.
- Provisional approval letter: issued to schools that meet the criteria.
Not every applicant passes. In the first 2025 batch in Lagos, over 100 schools applied and 70 qualified: 41 nursery and primary and 29 junior and senior secondary. Expect a thorough process and plan your opening date accordingly. OEQA is based in Alausa, Ikeja; ask it for the current application window, forms and any fees before committing to a building.
Prepare before you apply
The state checks that a school is safe and fit for children. Work through these areas before inspectors arrive:
| Area | What to get ready |
|---|---|
| Premises | A safe building with adequate classrooms, toilets, ventilation and a secure perimeter |
| Ownership | CAC registration of the proprietor's company or business name |
| Staff | Qualified teachers for each level and a head teacher or principal |
| Curriculum | Timetables and schemes of work in line with the national curriculum |
| Safeguarding | A written child protection policy and staff trained on it |
| Safety | Fire equipment, first aid, emergency exits and a pick-up procedure |
| Records | Admission register, attendance registers and staff files |
Money: fees, costs and tax
Under Nigeria's new tax laws, education remains exempt from VAT, so you do not add VAT to tuition. A CAC-registered small company with turnover below ₦100 million and assets below ₦250 million is exempt from companies income tax. Keep proper accounts from the first term.
Cash flow in a school is seasonal. Most fees arrive at the start of each term, while salaries, rent and power are paid every month. Plan for the gap.
Worked example (illustrative): a nursery and primary school with 120 pupils charges ₦250,000 a term, so it expects ₦30 million a term if every family pays on time. Salaries for 12 staff average ₦150,000 a month, ₦1.8 million a month or ₦5.4 million a term. Rent, power and supplies take another ₦3 million a term. If 20% of families pay late, ₦6 million arrives weeks after salaries are due. Instalment plans, published deadlines and a cash reserve close that gap. Our explainer on school fees in instalments shows how parents think about this.
After approval
- Display your approval and keep every letter from the state on file.
- Expect follow-up monitoring visits; standards apply every term, not just at inspection.
- Issue an invoice and receipt for every fee payment.
- Keep staff files, including qualifications and background checks, up to date.
- Review safeguarding training each year.
Building enrolment
Approval lets you open; parents decide whether you fill. Most new schools grow class by class, starting with nursery and lower primary and adding a year each session. That keeps staffing manageable and lets the school's reputation grow with its first cohort. A few practices help:
- Hold open days where parents can see classrooms, meet teachers and ask about safety and pick-up.
- Publish fees, what they include, and payment deadlines clearly before admission.
- Send termly reports and keep parents informed through a single, reliable channel.
- Respond to complaints quickly and in writing.
- Ask satisfied parents to refer others; word of mouth is how most families choose a school.
Keep class sizes in line with what your staff and rooms can handle. Taking more pupils than the building was approved for can put the approval at risk and wears down teachers.
Parents increasingly check whether a school is approved before enrolling. Being able to show your approval letter and issue clear receipts builds trust at admission time.
Where Pryme fits
Schools are a supported Spaces sector. An approved school that opens a Pryme Business Account can join Spaces and reach parents who hold Loans on Spaces, credit lent by Solid Allianze MFB that can only be spent with Spaces merchants, so fees can be paid when they are due. Our article on pay-later for private schools covers the school's side. Virtual accounts can give each family its own account number for fees, and payroll pays teachers on time. For merchant terms, contact Pryme.
Questions people ask
How do I register a private school in Lagos?
Register with the Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA) in Alausa, Ikeja. The process covers online registration, site visits, approval inspections and a documentation review, followed by a provisional approval letter for schools that qualify.
Can I run a school without government approval in Nigeria?
No. State governments require private schools to be approved, and Lagos has warned that unregistered schools may face sanctions.
Do private schools charge VAT on school fees?
Education is VAT-exempt under Nigeria's tax laws, so tuition does not carry VAT.
How long does private school approval take?
It depends on the state's application window and inspection schedule. Ask OEQA or your state education ministry for current timelines before you commit to an opening date.
Sources
- Lagos directs unregistered private schools to register for quality education monitoring (ThisDay, Jan 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
- LASG presents provisional approval letters to 2025 first batch of school owners (Radio Nigeria Lagos) · accessed Oct 2026
- Explainer: Who will pay under Nigeria's new tax laws (The Guardian) · accessed Oct 2026
- How much does it cost to incorporate a company in Nigeria? (Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr) · 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.