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.
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).
