The Lagos State Government, through the Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA), has inaugurated a 17-member committee tasked with drafting and implementing a comprehensive policy for non-state schools in the state.
This move aims to standardize the delivery of education in private and mission-owned institutions which ensures alignment with both national benchmarks and Lagos State’s unique educational needs.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony held on Thursday at the OEQA Headquarters Conference Room in Alausa, Ikeja, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Mrs. Abisola Dokumu-Adegbite, noted that the initiative was in consonance with Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu’s vision of “leaving no child behind” by providing equitable, high-quality education to all children, regardless of school type.
“The committee is expected to produce a policy of world-class standard,” she stated, urging members to prioritize both present and future needs while promting educational equity.
” I hope I have your assurances as I Inaugurates you today to deliver unto us within the specific time line, a document that is both standard and useable over the years” Dokumu- Adegbite started.
She concluded by assuring the committee of her continuous involvement and oversight.
In his opening remarks, the Coordinating Director of OEQA, Mr. Remi Abdul, , described the inauguration as a landmark step in the government’s broader mission to transform the education sector.
“This initiative is setting the agenda for the standardization of non-state schools in Lagos and potentially across Nigeria,” said Mr. Abdul.
He commended the DAWN Commission and PLANE for their technical support and emphasized Lagos State’s leadership in localizing the National Policy for Non-State Schools recently approved by the National Council for Education.
The committee is chaired by Dr. Sulaimon Ogunmuyiwa, Director of Private Education and Special Programmes at OEQA. Dr. Ogunmuyiwa who outlined the committee’s key responsibilities, which include identifying gaps in existing regulations, aligning with national policy frameworks and developing a draft policy for legislative approval by the Lagos State House of Assembly.
“Once implemented, this policy will provide non-government education investors with a unified, transparent framework—replacing outdated guidelines and simplifying compliance,” said Dr. Ogunmuyiwa. The committee is expected to submit its draft within two months.
The initiative received broad support from various education stakeholders. Chief Alaka Yusuf, President of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Lagos Chapter, remarked:
“This policy will enhance the quality of education and ensure consistency across both public and private institutions in Lagos.”
Similarly, Reverend Father Vincent Oluwafemi Bankole, representative of Catholic Mission Schools in Lagos, called the policy “a step in the right direction”, emphasizing its importance in guiding all non-state actors toward a shared vision of quality education.
Alhaji Yaqeen Mansur, Chairman of the League of Muslim School Proprietors in Lagos, praised the initiative as a long-overdue move:
“For the first time, we are getting it right. This policy will serve as a working paper for every non-state school operator and contribute to Lagos State’s developmental goals.”
The committee’s work would culminate in the submission of the draft policy to the Lagos State House of Assembly for legislative backing, which would pave the way for implementation across all non-state educational institutions in the state.
