In a landmark initiative to accelerate the approval of ‘yet-to-be approved’ private schools across Lagos State, the Lagos State Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA), in collaboration with SEED Care & Support Foundation, hosted a maiden free intervention workshop on May 22, 2025 titled ‘Pathway to Progress: Scaling Up Private Schools for Approval in Lagos’.
The event aimed to guide proprietors of Grade A and B private schools through the formal government approval process, offering both technical and financial support.
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The first-of-its-kind workshop was designed to demystify the school approval journey and provide schools with direct pathways to meet regulatory standards and gain official recognition.
In a keynote address titled ‘The Role of Compliance in School Growth’, delivered on behalf of the Lagos State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Hon. Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun, by Mr. Olufemi Asaolu, participants were encouraged to see compliance not as a burden, but as a catalyst for school excellence.
“Compliance, in its essence, is not simply about adhering to a set of rules and regulations; it is a holistic approach to ensuring that our schools operate with integrity, efficiency, and a steadfast commitment to providing quality education,” Asaolu stated.
He emphasised the need for schools to meet infrastructural, curricular, safety, and staffing standards; uphold ethical governance; and remain accountable to all stakeholders including parents, students, and regulatory bodies.
Speaking at the event, Olanrewaju Oniyitan, Executive Director of SEED Care & Support Foundation, outlined SEED’s commitment to improving the quality of education in affordable non-state schools.
“SEED is a non-profit that works with affordable private schools to help them deliver quality education so that all children can thrive and succeed. We support them through our advocacy hub, evidence lab, and learning network,” she explained.
Oniyitan noted that many Grade A, B—and even C and D—schools require both technical and financial support to meet approval standards. SEED will be presenting opportunities to these schools for technical assistance, including support around quality assessment, access to finance, training and mentoring, and partnership support.”
As part of financial support of SEED, the foundation brought in financial institutions comprising commercial, microfinance, and non-interest banks to explore financial inclusion opportunities for the schools.
“This is not just a workshop—it’s a transformation lifeline,” she said. “We’ve partnered with financial institutions to co-develop tailored financial products that allow these schools to open accounts, access loans, and fund essential infrastructure upgrades, amongst others.”
Dr. Sulaimon Ogunmuyiwa, Director/Head of OEQA, reiterated the agency’s dedication to making the approval process more transparent and achievable. He explained OEQA’s school grading framework (Groups A to D), which helps schools understand their current status and the steps needed to progress toward approval.
“Approval is a process, and no school is too small or unqualified to begin it. We are committed to walking with every school on this journey.”
He added that “this is the first time we are having this type of intervention, and we still have a lot to do. The government is doing a lot to make the process seamless.”
Ogunmuyiwa shared the agency’s ambitious goal of registering and approving at least 10,000 private schools by the end of 2025. With over 3,000 primary and nearly 300 secondary schools already registered, the OEQA aims to fast-track the process through strategic partnerships like this.
Participants were grouped for diagnostic assessments to determine their school readiness for approval and identify key areas for support.
The workshop concluded with a group photograph and presentation of certificates to attendees from the yet-to-be approved Grade A and B schools.
Several participants praised the initiative, describing it as eye-opening and transformational while calling for more gatherings like this to discuss issues affecting educational sector in the state.
One of the participants, Amu Olalekan remarked, “The initiative behind this workshop is extra-ordinary. It is not just about the approval but the hope, motivation, and the push to upgrade school, get approval and maintain the standard of the education.”
Another participant, Funmilayo Iriferigoma, emphasised on the approval process explanation and described the workshop as “a mind opening one. It demystified the school approval process and how the OEQA functions. Well organised.”
Also present at the workshop, Oluremi Adesokan, shared that all that bothers him on approval of school in the state have been resolved easily through the workshop “This is a laudable event! The transparency was obvious and all my fears have been taken care of,” the participant said.
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