The Lagos State Government has urged owners of yet-to-be-approved private schools to register with the Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA), stressing that registration is essential to ensure compliance with standards and protect children from unsafe and substandard learning environments.
The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun, gave the directive on Wednesday as part of the government’s efforts to ensure that all educational institutions below the tertiary level meet prescribed standards and provide safe and quality education to learners.
Alli-Balogun said the administration would no longer condone the proliferation of yet-to-be-approved schools operating outside the regulatory framework of the State.
He disclosed that OEQA had organised two comprehensive training programmes in 2026 for operators of yet-to-be-approved schools to explain the approval process and guide them on how to meet the requirements.
“We have simplified the process and provided all the necessary support. The government has done its part by engaging and training over 800 yet-to-be-approved schools this year alone. What is left is for proprietors to demonstrate compliance and willingness to do the right thing. Approval is not a witch-hunt; it is for the safety of our children and the credibility of your own institution,” he said.
The commissioner urged affected schools to take advantage of the opportunity provided by the government and regularise their status without further delay. He also appreciated private school owners for their partnership with the State Government in providing education to children across Lagos.
Also speaking, the Director-General of OEQA, Dr. Sulaimon Ogunmuyiwa, said registration was mandatory for all private schools under the Lagos State Education Law.
Ogunmuyiwa said the rapid growth in the number of private schools in the State made proper registration, documentation and data capture necessary for effective monitoring, quality assurance and targeted intervention.
He urged proprietors of yet-to-be-approved schools to submit their applications at the OEQA Office, Block 5, The Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, assuring them that officers of the agency were available to provide professional guidance throughout the process.
According to him, registration provides schools with official recognition and listing by the State Government, eligibility for State and private-sector intervention initiatives, access to technical and financial support programmes, capacity-building opportunities for teachers and timely information on education policies and reforms.
He assured that the Lagos State Government remained committed to ensuring that every child in the State has access to safe, inclusive, compliant and quality education, noting that registration and approval of private schools remained crucial to achieving the education objectives of the THEMES Plus Development Agenda.
