Christ Divine Favour College in Bariga, Lagos, has received provisional approval from the Lagos State Government to operate as a private secondary school, placing its management under state requirements for safety, educational standards and regulatory compliance.
The school, located at 84 Ilaje Road, Bariga, is among 101 private schools that received provisional approval letters from the Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA) at a ceremony in Alausa, Ikeja, according to information supplied by the school.
The approval, which took effect on 25 September 2026, allows Christ Divine Favour College to operate as a day school only. It does not constitute final approval, which the state says depends on satisfactory inspection reports.
For proprietor Albert Sunday Ndem and his co-owner, Christiana David-Albert, the approval marks a significant step in establishing the school within Lagos State’s regulated private education sector.
However, the conditions attached to the approval also place responsibility on the management to maintain the required standards and satisfy the authorities during subsequent inspections.
What the approval means for Christ Divine Favour College
The provisional approval letter, dated 28 September 2026, carries reference number OEQA/PESP/SA/SEC&SF/26/331.
It was signed by the Director-General of the OEQA, Dr Sulaimon Olagoke Ogunmuyiwa, and states that the Commissioner for Education granted the approval after the school complied with the state’s policies and guidelines for establishing private schools.
The approval permits the school to operate as a private secondary school offering day-school services. It does not authorise boarding facilities or the operation of additional branches under the same approval.
The state also requires the school to renew its approval annually, pay the prescribed fees and maintain satisfactory inspection reports. Failure to renew the approval attracts a penalty.
The letter further states that the approval is not transferable and does not cover annexes. Management must also notify the ministry before changing the school’s name, location or mode of operation.
These conditions mean that the approval is not a one-off administrative exercise. The school must continue to demonstrate compliance to retain its authorisation.
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Why the approval matters to parents and students
For families in Bariga and surrounding communities, the approval represents an important regulatory step in the school’s establishment.
State oversight can help parents make more informed decisions when choosing a school, particularly when authorities inspect facilities, assess compliance and enforce applicable education standards.
However, provisional approval alone does not establish the quality of teaching, students’ academic performance, the adequacy of facilities or the school’s long-term safety record.
Parents may therefore want to ask the school about its curriculum, teachers’ qualifications, classroom facilities, safeguarding arrangements, fees and plans for meeting the state’s requirements.
The approval also does not, by itself, establish that the school has received final authorisation. Parents should confirm its current regulatory status with the OEQA before relying on the provisional letter as evidence of full approval.
Safety and annual inspections remain key requirements
Under the conditions outlined in the approval letter, the school management must ensure the safety of students and staff at all times.
This requirement places responsibility on the proprietors to maintain an environment that supports learning while addressing potential risks involving school buildings, facilities and student welfare.
The approval may provide a pathway for the school to establish itself within the state’s education system. However, the benefits will depend partly on how effectively its management implements the required standards.
The conditions also create potential challenges. Annual renewal involves fees and continued compliance, while any failure to meet state requirements could expose the school to penalties or suspension of its approval.
The letter warns that the state may suspend or withdraw the approval if the school acts contrary to government policies.
These provisions are intended to support accountability, but their effectiveness will depend on consistent inspections, transparent enforcement and timely action when authorities identify shortcomings.
Ndem welcomes the government’s decision
Speaking on behalf of other beneficiaries after the presentation, Ndem, identified in the school’s statement as its President and Chief Executive Officer, expressed appreciation to the Lagos State Government and the OEQA for granting the school provisional approval.
He described the decision as recognition of the school’s commitment to meeting the standards set by the state government.
Ndem also commended the approval process under Ogunmuyiwa’s leadership, describing it as transparent and rigorous.
He pledged that the school management would comply with the conditions attached to the approval, prioritise students’ safety and academic development, and contribute to education in Lagos State.
The school said its plans align with the T.H.E.M.E.S Plus Agenda of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
However, these commitments remain statements of intent. Evidence of their implementation will depend on the school’s facilities, teaching standards, safeguarding practices and performance in future inspections.
What the approval means for Lagos’ private education sector
The approval of 101 private schools highlights the role of government regulation in the state’s non-tertiary education sector.
Private schools provide additional options for families and can help expand access to education. However, their growth also increases the importance of monitoring standards, particularly where schools operate without adequate facilities, qualified staff or effective safeguarding measures.
The provisional approval process gives the state an opportunity to assess schools and require improvements before granting final approval.
For Christ Divine Favour College, the next stage will be to maintain compliance and satisfy the authorities that it meets the requirements for continued operation and eventual final approval.
The government has not provided, in the information supplied for this report, a breakdown of the other 100 schools, the inspection findings that informed the approvals or a timeline for the next assessment.
Those details would help parents and the public understand how the approval process works, what standards schools must meet and how the state will hold proprietors accountable.
What happens next?
The OEQA is expected to assess schools against the applicable requirements as part of the process leading to final approval.
For Christ Divine Favour College, the immediate priorities are to maintain safe facilities, meet the state’s operating conditions, renew its approval annually and prepare for further inspections.
The school has received provisional authorisation, but its long-term standing will depend on whether it sustains the required standards.
For parents, the key question is not simply whether a school has received an approval letter, but whether it continues to provide safe, adequately resourced and effective education.
The next important measure of the government’s initiative will be how consistently it inspects approved schools, publishes relevant compliance information and responds when schools fall short of the required standards.
