Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday, officially inaugurated Charterhouse Lagos Primary School and performed the groundbreaking ceremony for its secondary school, marking a major milestone in the state’s education sector.
Speaking at the event, the governor, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin, expressed pride in hosting the first British independent school in Nigeria and West Africa. He described the $150 million project, located along Ogombo Road in Lekki, as a game-changer in educational excellence.
“I am particularly proud that it is happening right here in Lagos, in Ogombo. I am a proud governor and great things are happening in my state. This occasion marks a transformative milestone in our journey to redefine educational excellence in Lagos and indeed across our great nation,” Sanwo-Olu stated.
As a sister institution to Charterhouse UK, the Lagos campus aims to combine British academic traditions with Nigerian cultural heritage. The governor emphasized that the school’s curriculum, which integrates the British national curriculum with a strong Nigerian and African studies program, would equip students with both global competitiveness and a deep-rooted sense of identity.
“This dual focus prepares them not only to thrive in universities worldwide but also to return home as leaders who will drive Nigeria’s future prosperity,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu noted that for decades, Nigerian families had been forced to send their children abroad for quality education, but Charterhouse Lagos was disrupting that trend.
“The Charterhouse Lagos campus, a $150 million model on 70 hectares in Ogombo, will provide world-class education here in Lekki. It keeps families united, invests tuition fees within our economy, and even attracts international families seeking the reverse of ‘japa’—that is, ‘japada,’ as we call it,” he said.
The commissioning event saw government officials, education stakeholders, and traditional rulers in attendance, including the Ologombo of Ogombo Kingdom, Oba Abiodun Ogunbo. The Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende, and the Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, also joined the tour of the campus.
Among the dignitaries was the Chairman of PUNCH Nigeria Limited, Mrs. Angela Emuwa, who commended the school’s high academic standards.
“You can tell that the standard of Charterhouse abroad, in the United Kingdom, is already high, so they will not bring anything less to Nigeria. I just see the way the children are being taught, and there is no way they will not have the best platform to maximize opportunities,” she said.
PUNCH Executive Director, Mrs. Wunmi Tunde-Obe, also lauded the investment, stating that concerns about the cost of attending Charterhouse Lagos would fade once people experienced its offerings firsthand.
“You have to be in this place to understand. Many people have said Charterhouse is costly. Some people ask why it’s so expensive, but once you come here, you will understand. You need to see it, believe it, and understand it so as to appreciate it,” she said.
She added that the school would not only boost Nigeria’s education sector but also bring economic benefits.
“This is a place where you have children from other parts of the continent coming here, maybe even other parts of the world,” she noted.
Charterhouse Lagos Director of Education, John Todd, described the launch as a significant achievement.
“It marks the culmination of so many plans. No Nigerian family needs to travel overseas because they can benefit from a world-class British independent school education here in Lagos at Charterhouse Lagos,” Todd said.
He further praised the Lagos State Government for its support, stating, “The level of excellence that we have achieved in opening Charterhouse Lagos is a testament that in Lagos State, anything is possible.”
Following the speeches, officials and guests toured the school’s state-of-the-art facilities, including classrooms, a music studio, and sports complexes, before proceeding with the groundbreaking of the secondary school, set to open later this year.
