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.
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.
Corona Schools 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.
The school was founded in 1955 following a proposal by Mrs. Anne MacDonald, a headmistress and member of the Corona Women’s Society, for the establishment of a small school for children aged 3 to 5 years.
The first Corona School, was then established, called Ikoyi Day Nursery, located at the Society’s headquarters at 35, First Avenue, Ikoyi, with an initial enrollment of five pupils.
Corona Schools is managed by the Corona Schools’ Trust Council, a non-profit organization founded by a group of expatriate and Nigerian women, including Mrs. Anne MacDonald, to provide 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.
- Mr. Olaniyi Yusuf is the Chairman of the Governing Board of the Corona Schools’ Trust Council. He is seasoned business leader with extensive experience in strategy, governance, and institutional development. He currently serves as Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group and is the Managing Partner at Verraki Partners.
- He also holds several leadership and advisory roles across business and policy institutions. These include serving as Chairman of Junior Achievement Nigeria, membership in the Aspen Leadership Network, and fellowship of the African Leadership Initiative (West Africa).
In addition, he contributes to leadership development as an Expert-in-Residence at Lagos Business School.
- The Board of Trustees is chaired by Dr. Myma Belo-Osagie. She is a co-founder of Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie, one of Nigeria’s leading law firms.
- She holds a law degree from the University of Ghana and advanced degrees from Harvard Law School, where she earned both an LL.M. and a Doctor of Juridical Science. Qualified to practice in Nigeria, New York, and Ghana.
- She also serves on several global education and development boards, including the advisory board of Harvard University’s Center for African Studies.
Tuition for Corona School Ikoyi is estimated at about N3 million per year, excluding additional costs such as uniforms, extracurricular activities, and other fees.
