Lagos Sets Up 17-Member Committee To Reform Private, Mission-Owned Schools

In a bold stride toward standardising education delivery in Nigeria’s commercial capital, the Lagos State Government has inaugurated a 17-member committee tasked with drafting and implementing a landmark policy for private and mission-owned schools.

Unveiled Thursday at the Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA) headquarters in Alausa, Ikeja, the initiative is being hailed as a blueprint for regulating non-state education providers, aligning them with national standards while addressing the unique educational landscape of Lagos.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Abisola Dokumu-Adegbite, described the move as a reflection of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s vision for inclusive, high-quality learning across all institutions.

“The committee is expected to produce a policy of world-class standard. I hope I have your assurances to deliver a document that is both standard and sustainable,” she said.

According to her, the policy is expected within two months and will be overseen by OEQA to ensure thoroughness and relevance.

Coordinating Director of OEQA, Remi Abdul, called the formation of the committee a “landmark step” that could spark broader national reforms.

“This initiative is setting the agenda for standardising non-state education in Lagos and possibly across Nigeria,” he noted, thanking development partners such as the DAWN Commission and PLANE for their technical support.

At the helm of the committee is Dr. Sulaimon Ogunmuyiwa, Director of Private Education and Special Programmes at OEQA. He outlined the committee’s mandate to address outdated regulatory frameworks and provide a unified, transparent policy that simplifies compliance for private school operators.

The committee’s objectives include:

Identifying regulatory gaps in the current system, Aligning with the National Policy for Non-State Schools, Submitting a draft bill to the Lagos State House of Assembly for formal adoption

The announcement drew praise from education stakeholders.

Chief Alaka Yusuf, President of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Lagos Chapter, said the policy would “enhance education quality and ensure consistency across institutions.”

Reverend Father Vincent Bankole, representing Catholic Mission Schools, called it “a step in the right direction,” while Alhaji Yaqeen Mansur, Chairman of the League of Muslim School Proprietors in Lagos, added:

“For the first time, we are getting it right. This policy will be a working manual for all non-state education operators and support Lagos’ long-term development goals.”

As the countdown to the committee’s report begins, all eyes will be on how Lagos executes this ambitious reform—one that could redefine education governance in Nigeria’s most populous state.