With an increasing demand for a global standard of learning and state-of-the-art facilities, premium education has become big business in Lagos.
These institutions offer not just academics, but entire ecosystems designed to rival top international schools, complete with modern campuses, international curricula, and highly trained faculty.
For many affluent families, enrolling their children in these schools is not just an academic decision; it’s a lifestyle investment.
But behind the polished hallways, sprawling campuses, and hefty school fees lies an equally intriguing layer.
Who exactly owns these institutions charging millions of naira per term in Lagos?
While some are run by private individuals passionate about education, others are backed by foreign investment groups, diplomatic institutions, and even royal families. Some schools operate as purely philanthropic missions, while others are profit-driven enterprises targeting Lagos’s wealthy elite.
Here are the people behind some of the most prestigious and expensive secondary schools in Lagos.
Founder Greensprings School, Mrs. Lai Koiki
Greensprings School is a British international school offering education from preschool through to A-Level, which is the final stage before university.
The school was founded by Mrs. Lai Koiki, an educator with over 30 years of experience in the field.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography from the University of Lagos and a Montessori diploma from St. Nicholas Montessori Training Centre in the UK.
Mrs. Koiki serves as the Executive Director and CEO of Greensprings Educational Services Ltd., the organization that manages the school.
Greensprings School was established in January 1985, The school has grown from a modest Montessori nursery into a leading institution with multiple campuses and a reputation for academic excellence
The school operates three campuses in Lagos and serves approximately 2,200 students, with 92% being local Nigerian students and 8% international students.
Tuition fees per session are about N3.8 million for day students and N7.1 million for boarding students.
Chairman of the Board of Grange School, Dayo Lawuyi (MON)
Grange School was established in 1958 by a group of British expatriates residing in Lagos, many of whom were affiliated with the West African Airways Corporation (WAAC).
WAAC was an airline established in 1946 by the British colonial administration to serve the air transport needs of British West African colonies
These expatriates approached WAAC for permission to rent one of its buildings to use as a school. With approval, they went on to form Grange Education Limited, a not-for-profit company, to manage the school.
Grange School was originally created to educate the children of WAAC employees, who could not easily travel to the UK for schooling due to the long and complicated flight routes of the time.
However, because quality schools were scarce in the Ikeja area at the time, Grange soon expanded its enrollment to include children from all backgrounds and employers in the community.
The school is governed by an Association of Members, primarily made up of parents and stakeholders, who elect a Board of Directors to oversee its operations.
As a non-profit institution, the school remains dedicated solely to the benefit of its students, with no individual holding ownership.
The Chairman of the Board is Dayo Lawuyi (MON), and the Governing Council Chairperson is Mrs. Awuneba Ajumogobia.
Tuition fees are approximately N4.5 million per session for day students and N6.5 million for boarders.
The school has a class size of an average of 18 students and follows the National Curriculum for England. It prepares students for exams like Cambridge Checkpoint, IGCSE, and A-Levels.
Christian Idehen, Late Dr. Abiodun Laja and Francis Idehen
Lekki British International School was founded by the late Dr. Abiodun Laja, a pioneering Nigerian educationist renowned for her contributions to private education in Nigeria.
She established the school in 2000 with a vision to bring British-style education to Nigerian students in a world-class environment.
After she passed away, the ownership and management of the school were passed to her children, Francis Idehen and Christian Idehen, who now oversee the affairs of the school.
The school operates as a British curriculum institution and offers early years, primary, and secondary education based on the National Curriculum for England.
Lekki British International has 350 students from 6 nationalities, with 80% local and 20% international students.
Tuition is about N4.6 million per year for day students and N6.8 million per year for boarders.
Chairman Board of Trustees, BIS Prince Adesegun ONIRU
British International School (BIS) was established in 2001 and is owned by the Oniru Royal Family of Lagos.
The Oniru Royal Family is a prominent traditional ruling dynasty in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State. Historically, they are landowners and custodians of large portions of Victoria Island, Lekki, and parts of Ikoyi.
Over the decades, the family has converted their ancestral lands into residential, commercial, and institutional properties, including luxury estates, markets, and schools.
The school was built as part of the family’s vision to provide world-class education within Victoria Island and the rapidly developing Oniru Estate in Lagos.
British International School (BIS) offers a British-style curriculum for students aged 11 to 18, with both day and boarding options.
The school prepares students for IGCSE and A-Levels and has an average class size of 20 students, with a maximum of 20 students per class.
Annual tuition fees are about N6.1 million for day students and N8.1 million for boarders.
Meadow Hall is owned by Dr. Kehinde Nwani, a trained lawyer and education entrepreneur who founded the school in 2002.
After earning a law degree from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) and being called to the Nigerian Bar over 35 years ago, she practised law for 14 years.
Nwani left her legal career to pursue her passion for education after struggling to find a school that matched her vision for her child. A more balanced, well-rounded education that nurtures both intellect and character.
She observed that while British and American schools encouraged creativity and critical thinking, they often lacked cultural grounding. In contrast, Nigerian schools focused heavily on content but offered little in terms of analytical reasoning or creativity.
She envisioned a school model that would offer both the development of children’s minds while keeping them rooted in their heritage and values. This led to the establishment of Meadow Hall, a hybrid institution that blends the British National Curriculum with key elements of the Nigerian Curriculum.
Over time, Meadow Hall evolved into the Meadow Hall Group, which includes several education-focused initiatives
Meadow Hall charges annual fees ranging from N5.5 million for Year 7-9 and N6.3 million for Year 11 & 12 for day students.
Boarding students’ annual fees range from N9.7 million for Year 7-9 and N10.4 million for Year 11 & 12.
Chairman, Atlantic Hall Educational Trust Council, Chief (Mrs.) Marlies Allan
Atlantic Hall School was born out of a shared concern by a group of ten Nigerian women who were both professionals and parents of school-aged children.
Motivated by their passion for quality education in Nigeria, they established the Atlantic Hall Educational Trust Council, a registered non-profit organization, in January 1986.
The council members, through personal contributions and support from various organizations, worked tirelessly to raise funds and put systems in place for the school.
The founders of Atlantic Hall School are:
- Chief (Mrs.) Marlies Allan (Chairman),
- Chief (Mrs.) Taiwo Taiwo,
- Chief (Mrs.) Eniola Fadayomi,
- Chief (Mrs.) K.O. Dina,
- Chief (Mrs.) M.M. Okunowo,
- Chief (Ms.) Abimbola Bode-Thomas,
- Ms. L. Aboderin, Lady Gbeminiyi Smith,
- Mrs. Olabisi Towry-Coker,
- Late Mrs. G.O. Fadayomi.
By January 1989, Atlantic Hall School officially opened its doors in the serene environment of Maryland Estate, Ikeja, Lagos.
The school is governed by the Atlantic Hall Educational Trust Council, comprising the original ten founders.
The Board of Governors, responsible for guiding the school’s overall direction and making sure it stays on track to achieve its long-term goals, includes professionals from various fields.
The school’s annual tuition fee is approximately N6.7 million.
President, Board of Trustees, Corona Schools, Dr. Myma Belo-Osagie
Corona Day Secondary School was founded in 1955 when Mrs. Anne MacDonald, then a headmistress and member of the Corona Women’s Society, proposed the establishment of a small school for children aged 3 to 5 years.
Her vision led to the opening of the first Corona School, then called Ikoyi Day Nursery, in March 1955, located at the Society’s headquarters at 35, First Avenue, Ikoyi, with an initial enrollment of five pupils.
The school was first financed through a £50 donation, contributions of furniture and fittings from well-wishers. Over the years, the student population grew rapidly, prompting the expansion to other locations across Lagos and Ogun states.
Corona Schools is not owned by an individual, it is managed by the Corona Schools’ Trust Council, a non-profit organization established in 1955.
The Council was founded by a group of expatriate and Nigerian women, including Mrs. Anne MacDonald, with the aim of providing quality education in Nigeria.
Corona Schools operates under a framework that includes a Governing Board responsible for day-to-day management and a Board of Trustees that provides overall strategic oversight.
The Board of Trustees is chaired by Dr. Myma Belo-Osagie and includes members such as Mr. Adedotun Sulaiman, Mrs. Bridget Itsueli, Chief Odunayo Olagundoye, and Mrs. Demi Ibare-Akinsan.
The school charges annual tuition fees of approximately N8 million.
President, Association Française du Nigeria (AFN), Guillaume Niarfeix
Lycée Français Louis Pasteur (LFLP) was founded in 1958 by the Association Française du Nigeria (AFN), a non-profit body responsible for managing the school.
AFN remains the legal owner and is in charge of the school’s overall operations, including maintenance, investments, treasury, and communications, through its Board Council.
Members of the AFN
- Guillaume Niarfeix (President)
- Tatiana Moussalli Nouri (Executive Vice President)
- Vania Mitakeva (Vice President)
- Marco Rebecchi (Treasurer)
- Philippe Barrault (Secretary)
- Flavian Le Saux (Member)
- Yetunde Adepoju (Member)
- Coulibaly Dognimin (Member)
- Oladapo Adisa (Member)
- Maide Yacoub Adoum (Member)
In 1991, the school entered into a formal agreement with the Agence pour l’Enseignement Français à l’Étranger (AEFE), an agency under the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
This partnership links the school to the French government, which provides financial support and educational oversight. The AEFE also recruits and assigns French civil servant teachers and administrators who are trained and assessed by the French Ministry of Education.
Internally, the day-to-day management of the school is led by the Principal, supported by a Director for the Primary School, a Conseiller Principal d’Éducation (CPE) for the Secondary School, and an Administrative and Financial Director.
The governance structure includes a Board of Directors comprising school leadership, representatives from the French Embassy, parents, and staff members.
The annual tuition fee for Grade 7 to 10 is N16,025,740 (€8,854), while the fee for Grade 11 to 13 is N19,184,190 (€10,599).
Executive Chairman, Huntington Education, Mr. Gordon Zhao
Charterhouse Lagos is owned and operated by Huntington Education Group, a Chinese investment company that acquired Charterhouse UK in 2016 from the City of London Corporation (the previous owner of Charterhouse UK).
Huntington Education Group is pursuing a strategy to build a global network of Charterhouse-branded British international schools.
Key figures include:
- Gordon Zhao: Executive Chairman of Huntington Education Group
- Patty Liu: Vice-Chair of Huntington Education Group
Charterhouse Lagos was officially launched in September 2023, with its primary school opening to students in September 2024. The secondary school is set to open for Years 7, 8, and 9 in September 2025, with plans for Years 10 (IGCSE) and 12 (A-Levels) by September 2026.
The tuition fees for the school vary by year group; for year 7 and year 8, the tuition is N21.7 million per session. Year 9 students pay N24.5 million annually.
In addition to tuition, full boarding costs N7 million per annum. An application fee of N2 million, which is non-refundable, is also required.
The American International School of Lagos (AISL), unlike for-profit private schools, is not privately owned by individuals or corporations. Instead, it is a non-profit organization legally incorporated under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 1990 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
As a company limited by guarantee and without share capital, AISL operates under a unique structure where ownership is vested in an association made up primarily of parents or guardians of children enrolled at the school.
These parents automatically become members of the AISL Association, which serves as the governing body of the school.
AISL functions strictly as an educational non-profit entity, meaning all revenue is reinvested into the school’s operations and development. The school itself owns all its assets, including the buildings, facilities, and equipment
The school’s governance is maintained by a nine-member Board of Directors that functions similarly to owners and makes financial, strategic, and policy decisions
- Of these nine directors, five are elected by the AISL Association members and serve a three-year term.
- Three directors are appointed representatives from leading oil companies in Nigeria: Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO), Mobil Producing Nigeria Limited, and Chevron Nigeria Limited.
- The ninth board member is appointed in writing by the United States Consul General in Lagos, representing the U.S. Embassy.
Nada Matni Beylouny serves as the Board President of AISL, with Yischai Beinish as the Vice President.
To maintain its non-profit integrity, the school’s board members are not compensated for their service, nor may they be employed by the school in any financially remunerated role while serving on the board.
- The Tuition fees range from N15,775,898 to N26,880,485 yearly, depending on the grade and program.
