School Registry NG
Centre of Excellence

Schools in Lagos

Explore 27,776+ schools across Lagos State. From Ikoyi to Ikorodu, find the best education in Nigeria's economic powerhouse.

27,776+

Total Schools

92%

Literacy Rate

Ikeja

Capital

20

LGAs

Historical Facts About Lagos

1

Ancient Settlement

Lagos was originally called Eko, a name given by the Bini people meaning 'war camp'. It has been a settlement for over 600 years, originally inhabited by the Awori subgroup of the Yoruba people.

2

Colonial Capital

Lagos served as the capital of Nigeria from 1914 to 1991, when the capital was moved to Abuja. During this period, it grew into one of Africa's largest and most important cities.

3

Economic Powerhouse

If Lagos were a country, it would have the 5th largest economy in Africa. The state generates over 30% of Nigeria's GDP and 65% of national industrial output.

Education Highlights in Lagos

Lagos State stands at the forefront of Nigerian education with innovation, diversity, and excellence.

Highest Number of Private Schools

Lagos has over 15,000 private schools — the highest in Nigeria — offering diverse curricula from British and American to Montessori and Islamic education.

Technology Integration Leader

Lagos schools lead in EdTech adoption with coding bootcamps, STEM labs, and AI-powered learning platforms becoming standard in top-tier institutions.

University Density

Home to 12 universities including UNILAG (ranked #2 nationally), Lagos State University, and several prestigious private institutions like Pan-Atlantic University.

Lagos at a Glance

Education Pulse

Economic Engine

Real-time education metrics and analytics

Literacy Rate

92%

vs 62% national

Primary Enrollment

98.2%

Net enrollment rate

Secondary Enrollment

84.7%

Net enrollment rate

Tertiary Enrollment

34.5%

Gross enrollment

Teacher Ratio

1:25

Teachers per student

Avg Class Size

28

Students per class

Most Sought-After Courses

Medicine & Surgery
4,200+ students98%
Law
3,800+ students95%
Computer Science
5,100+ students94%
Mass Communication
3,200+ students91%
Accounting
4,500+ students88%
Economics
3,600+ students85%
Mechanical Engineering
2,800+ students82%
Business Administration
3,900+ students80%

Natural Resources

Crude Oil

Offshore oil reserves in Badagry and Epe axis

Natural Gas

Significant deposits supporting power generation

Silica Sand

Used in glass manufacturing and construction

Bitumen

One of the world's largest bitumen deposits in Ondo-Lagos axis

Clay

Used in ceramics and construction industries

Key Industries

FAAC Allocation₦350B+
Internal Generated Revenue₦750B+
Tax Revenue₦502B+
Land Use Charges₦142B+
Licenses & Fees₦106B+

Migration Insights

600,000+

Yearly Inflow

91%

Urbanization

Top Origin States

OyoOsunOgunKanoImoDelta

Hall of Fame

Prof. Wole Soyinka

Nobel Laureate in Literature (1986)

Government College, Ibadan (born in Abeokuta, lived in Lagos)

Chinua Achebe

Renowned novelist and poet

University of Lagos affiliate

Philip Emeagwali

Computer scientist, Gordon Bell Prize winner

University of Lagos

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

WTO Director-General

UNILAG Economics

Hakeem Olajuwon

NBA Hall of Famer

University of Houston (from Lagos)

Prof. Grace Alele-Williams

First female Nigerian university vice-chancellor

University of Lagos

WAEC 2024 Results

Lagos has maintained a top-5 position in national WAEC rankings for the past decade, with strong public, mission and private school pipelines.

View Details

State Information

CapitalIkeja
Population15.9 million (2022 est.)
Area3,577 km²
CreatedMay 27, 1967
GovernmentBabajide Sanwo-Olu
RegionSouth-West
MottoCentre of Excellence
Lagos State Education Data

School Landscape in Lagos State

Real-time metrics from SchoolRegistry's database of 27,776 schools

27,776
Total Schools
92%
Literacy Rate
National: 62%
28
Class Size
Ratio: 1:25
12,542
Public
45% of total
15,234
Private
55% of total
127
Tertiary

Schools by Education Level

Public vs Private Schools

SchoolRegistry.ngData verified 2026

Lagos State Education Budget (% of Total)

Education share of total state budget from 2016 to 2025 — UNESCO recommends 15-20%

SchoolRegistry.ng
Year2016
1UNESCO Benchmark
17.5
Lagos State UNESCO benchmark: 15-20%Sources: BudgIT, Premium Times, state budget documents
WAEC Performance

How Lagos Schools Perform in WAEC

Lagos has maintained a top-5 position in national WAEC rankings for the past decade, with strong public, mission and private school pipelines.

Quick Stats 2024

Literacy Context92%
Primary Enrollment98.2%
Secondary Enrollment84.7%
Teacher Ratio1:25
Directory Schools27,776
Education HubIkeja

Popular Areas in Lagos

Notable Landmarks in Lagos

Historic and cultural landmarks that define Lagos State's rich heritage.

CulturalEst. 1976

National Theatre

Iconic cultural centre shaped like a military hat, hosting performances and exhibitions since 1976.

Iganmu, Lagos Island
HistoricEst. 1960

Tafawa Balewa Square

Historic 50,000-capacity square where Nigeria's independence was celebrated in 1960.

Marina, Lagos Island
NatureEst. 1990

Lekki Conservation Centre

78-hectare urban nature reserve featuring Africa's longest canopy walkway (401m).

Lekki, Eti-Osa
InfrastructureEst. 1990

Third Mainland Bridge

11.8km bridge connecting Lagos Island to the mainland — once Africa's longest bridge.

Lagos Island to Oworonshoki
HistoricEst. 2010

Freedom Park

Former colonial prison turned serene park and cultural venue in the heart of Lagos Island.

Lagos Island

Culture & Entertainment in Lagos

Lagos State culture, landmarks and local identity help parents understand each school community.

Notable Artists

Fela Kuti

Afrobeat

Pioneer of Afrobeat music, political activist

Wizkid

Afropop

Grammy winner, global Afrobeats ambassador

Burna Boy

Afrofusion

Grammy winner, 'African Giant'

Tiwa Savage

Afropop/R&B

Queen of Afrobeats, MTV EMA winner

King Sunny Ade

Juju

Grammy-nominated Juju music legend

Davido

Afropop

Multiple MTV award winner, 30BG founder

Nollywood Stars

Genevieve Nnaji

Actress/Producer

Netflix deal for 'Lionheart'

Funke Akindele

Actress/Producer

Highest-grossing Nollywood filmmaker

Ramsey Nouah

Actor/Director

'Living in Bondage' director

Omotola Jalade

Actress

Time 100 most influential people (2013)

Bolanle Austen-Peters

Theatre Director

Terra Kulture founder

Entertainment Scene

Festivals & Celebrations

Nollywood — Second largest film industry globally by production volume
Afrobeats — Lagos is the undisputed global capital of Afrobeats
Comedy — thriving stand-up scene with venues across the city
Fashion — Lagos Fashion Week draws international designers annually
Tech — Yaba 'Silicon Lagoon' is Nigeria's premier tech hub
Food — from street food (suya, agege bread) to fine dining

Local Culture in Lagos

Traditional Cuisine

Festivals & Celebrations

Key Industries

Cultural

Eyo Festival

The iconic masquerade festival unique to Lagos Island, believed to be the precursor to Brazil's Carnival. The white-clad Eyo masquerades represent ancestral spirits.

Origin: Lagos Island

Traditional

Bata Drumming

Traditional Yoruba drum music with deep spiritual significance, featuring hourglass-shaped drums played with a curved stick.

Origin: Yoruba

Heritage

Ogu People Heritage

The Egun-speaking Ogu people of Badagry maintain unique traditions including the Zangbeto masquerade and Vodun spiritual practices.

Origin: Badagry

Culinary

Lagos Street Food

From Agege bread to Suya, Ewa Agoyin to Boli, Lagos street food culture reflects the city's diversity and entrepreneurial spirit.

Origin: Pan-Nigerian

Sports & Recreation

Ikeja recreation corridorIkeja recreation corridorYaba recreation corridorLekki recreation corridorVictoria Island recreation corridorIkorodu recreation corridor

Browse Schools by Level

School Choice Tools

Find the right school for every stage of your child's education journey.

Frequently Asked Questions About Schools in Lagos

Common questions about schools in Lagos State.

How many schools are in Lagos?

How much are school fees in Lagos?

How do I find the best schools in Lagos?

Are schools in Lagos government-approved?

Are schools in Lagos government-approved?

Lagos State has approximately 27,776 registered schools, comprising 15,421 primary schools, 8,321 secondary schools, 4,034 nursery/creche schools, and 127 tertiary institutions. This makes it the state with the highest number of schools in Nigeria.

Related Reading

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Data sources: state education records, WAEC, JAMB, NUC, NBS, and SchoolRegistry NG enrichment. Last updated: May 2026.