Lagos State Government has warned yet-to-be-approved private schools operating across the state to regularise their status, directing them to immediately begin the registration process with the Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA).
A statement issued by the Lagos State Government said the directive was issued on Wednesday by the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun, as part of the government’s efforts to ensure that all schools below the tertiary level meet the required standards and provide safe, compliant and quality education to learners.
Alli-Balogun said the state government was committed to sanitising the education sector and would no longer tolerate the proliferation of yet-to-be-approved schools operating outside the state’s regulatory framework.
He disclosed that OEQA had organised two comprehensive training programmes in 2026 for yet-to-be-approved schools on the approval process.
According to him, the training was aimed at simplifying the requirements, providing practical guidance to proprietors and making the process of obtaining approval easier and more transparent.
“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 all affected schools to make use of the opportunity provided by the government and regularise their status without further delay.
He also expressed appreciation to private school owners for their continued partnership with the Lagos State Government in providing education to children across the state.
Alli-Balogun said private schools remained important stakeholders in the implementation of the THEMES Plus Development Agenda and commended them for supporting the government’s efforts to expand access to education.
Also speaking at the OEQA Conference Room in Alausa, Ikeja, the Director-General of OEQA, Dr Sulaimon Ogunmuyiwa, said registration was mandatory for all private schools in line with the Lagos State Education Law.
He appealed to proprietors of affected schools to comply with the directive.
Ogunmuyiwa said the rapid growth in the number of private schools across the state had made proper registration, documentation and data capture important for effective monitoring, quality assurance and targeted intervention.
He explained that yet-to-be-approved private schools could submit their applications for registration at the OEQA office, Block 5, The Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja.
According to him, the registration process was straightforward, with officers of the agency available to provide professional guidance to proprietors.
Ogunmuyiwa said registration also provided several benefits, including official recognition and listing by the state government, eligibility for state and private-sector intervention initiatives, access to technical and financial support programmes, and capacity-building opportunities for teachers.
He added that registered schools would also have access to timely information on emerging policies, reforms and opportunities in the education sector.
The OEQA Director-General assured that the Lagos State Government, under the leadership of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, remained committed to ensuring that every child in the state had access to safe, inclusive, compliant and quality education.
He added that the registration and approval of private schools remained an important step towards achieving the education objectives of the THEMES Plus Development Agenda.
