Lagos houses a good number of the most expensive schools in Nigeria including primary schools.

Within these institutions, tuition is not just a fee but access to global curricula, premium facilities, and carefully curated learning environments.

For many families, this is no longer just about schooling.

It is about positioning. It is about giving a child a head start in a world that is increasingly competitive.

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But beneath the reputation, the branding, and the carefully curated learning environments lies a question that does not get asked often enough. Who is building these institutions? Who is setting the standards, defining the vision, and ultimately shaping what premium education looks like in Nigeria’s most competitive city?

This article spotlights the owners and promoters behind the most expensive primary schools, unpacking the individuals, families and organisations driving Lagos’ most exclusive education markets.

Methodology 

This report draws on data on the most expensive primary schools in Lagos as reported by Nairametrics. Only institutions with clear, accessible fee information or confirmed figures were included.

Here are the key leaders behind the most expensive primary schools in Lagos in 2026.

Chief Dr. (Mrs.) Winifred Awosika – Founder, Christland School

Christland School was founded by High Chief Dr. (Mrs.) Winifred Awosika with a vision to provide quality private education in a nurturing environment.

Mrs. Awosika started teaching her young son at home. What began as a small home-based learning setup soon attracted other children, leading her to convert part of her home into a nursery. The school kicked off in 1977 with just 5 students.

Over the years, Chrisland Schools expanded across Lagos, grown into a major private education brand in Lagos, offering both primary and secondary education

The school operates a child-centred approach, focusing on self-discovery and personal development by giving individual attention to each pupil. Learning is built around three key areas: cognitive, affective, and psychomotor skills.

Tuition at Christland School, Opebi, is about N1.3 million per term for primary school, with subsequent terms around N900,000, bringing the total annual tuition to approximately N2.7 million, excluding other additional costs.

Mrs. Lai Koiki – Founder, Greensprings School

Greensprings School is a leading British international school in Lagos, with campuses in Anthony. The school also has other branches in Lekki, and Ikoyi, offering premium education from early years through to secondary level.

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 for Greensprings Elementary School is estimated at around N4 million per year.

Segun Ogunsanya- Chairman of the Board of Grange School 

Grange School Lagos is a long-established non-profit British international school located in GRA, Ikeja, founded in 1958, by British expatriates to deliver education of the same standard as what is obtainable in the United Kingdom.

Dr. Segun Ogunsanya serves as Chairman of the Board of the school with over 35 years of experience spanning telecommunications, banking, consulting, and fast-moving consumer goods.

He is also the Chairman of the Board of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, one of the country’s long-standing premium institutions.

His career also includes serving as Group Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Africa PLC, a FTSE 100-listed company operating across 14 African countries, where he oversaw large-scale telecom and financial service operations before retiring in 2024.

Ogunsanya has also held senior leadership roles across major multinational companies. These include Managing Director of Nigerian Bottling Company, CEO of Coca-Cola Sabco in Kenya, and leadership positions within Coca-Cola operations in both Nigeria and Ghana. He also led retail banking operations across 28 African countries at Ecobank Transnational Inc.

He holds a degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University and has received multiple professional fellowships across accounting, engineering, and corporate governance institutions. His presence on the board of Grange School signals the level of corporate oversight and strategic direction guiding some of Lagos’ most established premium schools.

Tuition at Grange School varies by year group, with fees for primary pupils ranging from N2.9 million for Years 1 and 2, N4 million for Years 3 to 5, and N4.3 million for Year 6, while new students pay up to N5 million with additional fees inclusive.

Darwish Foudeh – Founder, Avi-Cenna International School

Avi-Cenna International School is a co-educational British curriculum school located in GRA, Ikeja, serving both Nigerian and expatriate families seeking an international standard of education from pre-school through to secondary level.

The school was founded by Jordanian expatriates, Darwish and Raida Foudeh, who arrived in Nigeria with a strong commitment to education and youth development.

Their vision centred on removing perceived limitations in children and fostering a mindset that education has no boundaries.

They started the school with just 70 students and eight teachers, and it has now grown into a diverse learning environment and a student population drawn from multiple nationalities.

Avi-Cenna’s structure spans early years, primary, and secondary education, catering to children between the ages of about 2 and 16, with both day and boarding options available.

The school follows a British curriculum and prepares students for internationally recognised qualifications such as IGCSEs, while serving both Nigerian and expatriate communities.

Tuition at Avi-Cenna International School is estimated at about N3.3 million with fees reaching around N4.5 million depending on the class, excluding additional costs.

Kehinde Nwani -Founder, Meadow Hall

Meadow Hall School is a private school located in Lekki, 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.

Tuition at Meadow Hall Junior School is N3.8 million to N4.3 million annually for returning students, depending on the year group, excluding additional costs. For new students, fees are about N4.4 to N4.9 million depending on the class.

Prince Adesegun Oniru- Chairman, Board of Trustees BIJS

British International Junior School (BIJS), is the primary school arm of British International School (BIS). It was established in 2001 by the Oniru Royal Family as part of its broader vision to develop world-class institutions within the rapidly expanding Oniru Estate.

The Oniru Royal Family is one of Lagos’ prominent traditional ruling dynasties in Eti-Osa, historically known as custodians of large portions of land across Victoria Island, Lekki, and parts of Ikoyi.

Prince Adesegun Oniru serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees. He has chaired the board since 2017, providing strategic oversight to one of Lagos’ leading private secondary schools.

He served as Commissioner for Housing and Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos State and then as Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development in Lagos State.

He attended Kafy Cross School, Lagos, Hall School, Sussex, England, and Stafford House Tutorial College, England. He holds a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Westminster.

Before returning to Nigeria, he built his engineering career in the United Kingdom, working with firms such as WS Atkins and Essex Highways Consultancy, where he specialised in bridge design, inspection, and structural engineering. He also worked as a project manager with PB Kennedy & Donkin, contributing to major infrastructure and residential development projects.

Tuition for British International Junior School is N7.09 million per year for Year 4, excluding lunch and additional fees, bringing the total to approximately N8.69 million annually.

For Year 2, tuition is about N6.47 million excluding extras, and about N8.07 million inclusive of additional costs.

Louis Nnamdi Mbanefo, Chairman, Board of Trustees- St. Saviour’s School Ikoyi

St. Saviour’s School, Ikoyi is a not-for-profit institution, governed by a Board of Trustees.

The school was founded in 1951 by prominent members of the Nigerian and British communities, built on the principles of the Anglican Christian tradition, and has maintained a strong reputation for academic excellence over the decades.

Mr. Louis Nnamdi Mbanefo serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees, bringing decades of legal and governance experience to the institution.

He joined the Board of Governors in 1986 and became a Trustee in 1990. After serving as Honorary Secretary of the Board for 10 years, he was appointed Chairman in 2001, providing long-term leadership and continuity.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mbanefo has an extensive legal background. He attended Marlborough College in the United Kingdom and completed his undergraduate studies at University of Cambridge, where he obtained both a Master of Law and a Master of Arts.

He was called to the English Bar at the Middle Temple in 1968 and to the Nigerian Bar in 1973, before being elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 1988. His personal connection to the school dates back to his children having attended St. Saviour’s in the 1980s.

St. Saviour’s School primarily offers early years and primary education, preparing pupils for secondary education both within Nigeria and internationally.

Tuition at St. Saviour’s School Ikoyi is approximately N3,544,587 per term, bringing the total annual fee to about N10.6 million.

Guillaume Niarfeix – President, Association Française du Nigeria (AFN)

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 is the legal owner and is in charge of the school’s overall operations, including maintenance, investments, treasury, and communications, through its Board Council.

The Association consists of ten members, with Niarfeix as President, alongside Tatiana Moussalli Nouri as Executive Vice President, and Vania Mitakeva as Vice President.

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.

At Lycée Français Louis Pasteur, French is the primary language of instruction, with English taught as a core subject and additional languages like German, Spanish and Arabic offered as options

Tuition for primary school (Years 1–6) is €7,525 per year

Emmanuela Imansuangbon- President Abraham Lincoln American Academy 

Abraham Lincoln American Academy is a private international school located on Victoria Island, offering an American-style education to children at the foundational and early learning stages.

Emmanuela Imansuangbon serves as President of the school, providing leadership and oversight for its operations in Nigeria. Since assuming the role in 2021, she has been responsible for guiding the institution’s growth and positioning within the competitive international school landscape.

She holds an academic background from the University of Miami, bringing international exposure to her role in managing a U.S.-curriculum institution.

The Lagos campus opened in 2023, expanding from its Abuja roots. The academy provides education from early years through middle school, serving students from toddler level up to about age 14.

Its curriculum is based on United States standards, with a strong focus on literacy, mathematics, science, and character development.

Tuition for Abraham Lincoln American Academy is around $10,500 annually for Grades 6–8, with a non-refundable application fee of $100.

Gordon Zhao-Executive Chairman, Huntington Education Group: Charterhouse Lagos

Charterhouse Lagos is a newly established British international school located on Ogombo Road in Ajah, Lagos. The school is owned and operated by Huntington Education Group, a global education investor that acquired Charterhouse UK in 2016 as part of its strategy to build a network of Charterhouse-branded schools worldwide.

Gordon Zhao serves as Executive Chairman of Huntington Education Group, providing strategic oversight for the group’s international expansion, including the development of Charterhouse Lagos.

Other key figures within the group include Patty Liu, who serves as Vice-Chair, supporting the organisation’s global education strategy.

Charterhouse Lagos was officially launched in September 2023, with its primary school opening to students in September 2024. The Lagos campus is part of the wider Charterhouse family of schools, rooted in Charterhouse School in Surrey, England, which was founded in 1611 and has over 400 years of educational heritage.

The school offers both day and boarding options, with boarding available from Year 5. The tuition fees for Year 1 are N23,000,000 per annum, and for Year 5, N26,000,000 per annum.

In addition to tuition, full boarding costs N7 million per annum. An application fee of N2 million, which is non-refundable, is also required.

Nitin Senan – Board President, American International School of Lagos

American International School of Lagos (AISL) is a private, non-profit international school located in Victoria Island, serving pupils from early childhood through Grade 12.

Mr. Nitin Senan serves as the Board President, representing the school’s parent body.

AISL operates as a company limited by guarantee without share capital, with ownership vested in an association made up primarily of parents or guardians of enrolled students.

These parents automatically become members of the AISL Association, which functions as the school’s governing body.

The school is overseen by a nine-member Board of Directors responsible for financial, strategic, and policy decisions. Of the nine directors, five are elected by members of the AISL Association and serve three-year terms.

Three directors are appointed as representatives of major oil companies operating 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.

Tuition at AISL ranges from $18,585 to $33,810 annually, excluding registration fees and an annual capital levy. The school also charges a non-refundable application fee of $150.