Education
Lagos Threatens To Shut Down All Unregistered Schools
By Dipo Olowookere
Owners of unregistered private schools in Lagos are in for a big trouble, the state government has disclosed.
From September 26, 2016, the state government will start to fish them out so as to shut them down.
Speaking at the third quarterly stakeholders’ forum of private schools owners held at the Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja on Monday, the Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Oluranti Adebule, disclosed that this was in a determined effort to ensure that private schools operating in the State conform to the quality standard of education set by the government.
Dr Adebule emphasized Lagos State government’s determination to ensure that all school children have access to quality education irrespective of whether they attend private or public schools, adding that part of the tools at government’s disposal to achieve this objective is maintaining accurate and precise data on schools and their mode of operations, which she said the census seeks to achieve.
“The enumeration exercise is aimed at providing the State government with accurate data and necessary information on private schools so as to set effective quality control mechanism in place and monitor compliance,” she said.
The Deputy Governor, who sought the cooperation of all the stakeholders especially, proprietors of private schools to ensure the success of the exercise, noted that the task of making Lagos education a role model of excellence required that all stakeholders must consolidate on their energies, integrate their thoughts and ideals and work together as a team towards achieving the objective.
While maintaining that the foundation of quality human capital development is the primary and secondary institutions, she stated that all the relevant stakeholders in the education sector must be ready to follow the rules of engagement which she listed to include; ensuring that only qualified professionals with requisite training are recruited, providing good infrastructure for learning such as libraries, science laboratories as well as encouraging co- curricular activities such as debates, literary activities , science and sport competitions, voluntary societies or clubs so as to produce well rounded students that would help to drive the nation’s economy in the future.
She announced that a total of 119 prospective school owners that applied for registration have been granted provisional approval having met the guide lines set by the State government.
Dr Adebule warned that schools not registered or approved by the State Ministry of Education will not operate, noting that some schools failed to take the advantage the easy registration procedure put in place by the State government.
According to her, “Government is not comfortable with our discovery that over 15,000 private schools are operating in the State and only just 4,556 are approved and registered; Let me state it clearly, henceforth, Lagos State Government will no longer allow private schools that are not duly registered by the Lagos State Ministry of Education to operate in the State, their operation becomes illegal henceforth in the State.”
She explained that the State government was taking steps to intensify the upgrade of public school facilities through construction and rehabilitation of more classrooms, libraries and laboratories and further disclosed that the State Executive Council recently approved the sum of ten billion Naira for capital projects in public schools to cover construction, renovation and rehabilitation to ensure conducive learning environment in public schools.
Earlier in his welcome address, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mr Adeshina Odeyemi stated that the forum is aimed at evaluating educational progress of private school students in the State and how to bring about positive development.
He urged private school owners to cooperate with the State government in the implementation of quality educational policies and programmes that would help to raise the standard of education.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof Oluwatoyin Temitayo Ogundipe, has been appointed as the chairman of the governing board of the National Universities Commission (NUC).
He was chosen for the role by President Bola Tinubu, according to a statement on Monday by the president’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga.
Prof Ogundipe succeeds Professor Olufemi Raphael Aina, who resigned his appointment after less than one year in office.
President Tinubu appointed Professor Aina in July last year, and the board members were inaugurated in November 2025.
As NUC Chairman, Prof Ogundipe will oversee the regulatory body of the Nigerian university system, focusing on funding, global competitiveness and academic stability.
He is expected to provide visionary leadership at the NUC and sustain the credibility of the Nigerian university system by advancing quality, access, and integrity in the education sector.
Prof Ogundipe headed the University of Lagos between 2017 and 2022. He is a professor of Botany with expertise in molecular plant taxonomy, biosystematics, ethnobotany, cytogenetics, forensic botany, and ecological conservation.
He holds a PhD in Botany from Obafemi Awolowo University and an MBA from the University of Lagos.
Currently, Prof Ogundipe, 66, serves as Pro-Chancellor of Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State.
He is a fellow of several professional bodies, including the Nigerian Academy of Science, the Linnaean Society of London, and the Royal Society of Biology, London. He has also served as President of the Botanical Society of Nigeria and Chairman of the Lagos State Science, Research and Innovation Council (LASRIC).
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
To improve sanitation and enhance the learning environment for students at Ebenezer Grammar School, Iberekodo, Abeokuta, Ogun State, a four-unit toilet facility has been built by OPay Digital Services Limited (OPay) in partnership with Dolly Children Foundation (DCF).
The project was commissioned on Thursday, June 18, 2026. It is expected to provide a safe and hygienic environment for the students and contribute to improved health outcomes.
It will also benefit hundreds of students by promoting healthier hygiene practices, reducing sanitation-related challenges, and creating a safer and more conducive environment for learning.
The OPay Clean Future Project aligns with broader national and global efforts to advance sustainable development, environmental protection, quality education, and community well-being. It further reflects OPay’s commitment to creating value beyond financial services through impactful corporate social responsibility initiatives while reinforcing Dolly Children Foundation’s mission of empowering children and strengthening underserved communities through sustainable development programmes.
At the commissioning, students were also given some educational and hygiene materials, while outstanding learners were recognised with school bags, sandals, and other learning resources in celebration of their academic excellence and exemplary conduct, underscoring the importance of supporting education while rewarding positive values and achievement.
“Education is the foundation of a brighter future, yet many children still face barriers to quality learning. Through the OPay Clean Future Project, we are improving sanitation, supporting education, and ensuring more students have the opportunity to learn in a safe and dignified environment,” the CSR Manager for OPay Digital Services Limited, Mr Itoro Udo, said.
Also, the Executive Director of Dolly Children Foundation, Adedolapo Osuntuyi, said, “Every child deserves access to a safe, healthy, and supportive learning environment. This project addresses a critical sanitation need while promoting environmental responsibility and helping students reach their full potential.”
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The national pre-qualifying examinations for the eighth season of the prestigious InterswitchSPAK have been concluded.
The exercise kicked off on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, and ended on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, with over 21,000 students participating, representing a 19.7 per cent increase compared with the over 18,000 registrations recorded in Season 7, underscoring continued nationwide growth and interest in the competition.
The competition is organised by Interswitch, Africa’s leading technology company focused on creating solutions that enable individuals and communities to prosper.
InterswitchSPAK was designed to identify and nurture exceptional Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) talents at the secondary school level.
The national pre-qualifying examinations marked the first stage of a rigorous selection process designed to identify the brightest young minds in STEM across the country. Successful candidates will progress through subsequent stages of the competition, culminating in a televised grand finale where finalists compete for scholarships and prizes worth over N40 million.
This year’s registration process also introduced an expanded access model, allowing parents and guardians to register their wards directly, alongside the traditional school-based registration approach. This enhancement contributed to broader participation and reinforced Interswitch’s commitment to creating inclusive access to educational opportunities for talented students nationwide.
Over the past seven seasons, InterswitchSPAK has continued to deliver impact through scholarships, mentorship, and national recognition for outstanding students, while consistently promoting educational equity and excellence in STEM education.
The overall winner of Season 8 will receive a N15 million tertiary scholarship, including monthly stipends. The first runner-up will receive a N10 million scholarship, inclusive of monthly stipends, while the second runner-up will be awarded a N5 million scholarship, also including monthly stipends. All scholarships are payable over five years. In addition, all nine finalists will receive brand-new laptops and other exciting prizes.
Beyond the top prizes, Season 8 introduces enhanced rewards for finalists placed 4th to 9th, alongside increased recognition for the teachers of students who finish in the top nine. The expanded reward structure further underscores Interswitch’s commitment to celebrating academic excellence and recognising the vital role educators play in nurturing future STEM leaders.
Commenting on the continued growth and participation in the initiative, the Executive Vice President for Group Marketing and Communications at Interswitch, Ms Cherry Eromosele, said, “The remarkable increase in registrations for Season 8 reflects the growing enthusiasm among young Nigerians for STEM education and innovation. We are encouraged by the confidence students, parents, teachers, and schools continue to place in InterswitchSPAK as a platform for academic excellence and opportunity.”
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