Ajao Estate has 2 government secondary schools – Ajao Estate Junior Grammar School and Ajao Estate Senior Grammar School – both under the Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area. The estate also has several approved private secondary schools operating within and along its borders.
For more context, read the previous guide: Schools, Hospitals, Hotels, and 7 Key Amenities in Abraham Adesanya Estate, Ajah.
What Is the Education Landscape in Ajao Estate Lagos?
Ajao Estate is a residential and commercial area in the Oshodi-Isolo LGA of Lagos State. Access to important facilities, including schools, is straightforward within and around the estate. The area serves students from Ajao Estate itself and neighbouring communities such as Mafoluku, Isolo, and Ejigbo.
Secondary education in Lagos is regulated by the Federal Ministry of Education. For a secondary school in Lagos to be fully operational, certain requirements must be met for government approval. Schools without this approval are not recognised institutions.
What Are the Government Secondary Schools in Ajao Estate Lagos?
There are 2 government secondary schools directly serving Ajao Estate. Ajao Estate Senior Grammar School and Ajao Estate Junior Grammar School are both government secondary schools in the Oshodi-Isolo LGA, Lagos State.
What Is Ajao Estate Junior Grammar School?
Ajao Estate Junior Grammar School is a public institution offering Junior Secondary School (JSS) education. It covers JSS 1 to JSS 3 for students aged 10 to 15. The school is owned and managed by the Lagos State government under the Lagos State Ministry of Education.
What Is Ajao Estate Senior Grammar School?
Ajao Estate Senior Grammar School is a public institution offering Senior Secondary School (SSS) education. It covers SSS 1 to SSS 3 for students aged 15 to 18. Students from the Junior Grammar School transition to this school after completing their Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
How Do Government Schools in Ajao Estate Compare to Others in Oshodi-Isolo?
Other government secondary schools in the Oshodi-Isolo LGA include Apata Memorial High School, Ajumoni Junior Grammar School, Ilamoye Senior Grammar School, Ilamoye Junior Grammar School, Okota Senior High School, and Unity Junior High School Oshodi. These schools serve students from areas neighbouring Ajao Estate.
School | Type | Level |
Ajao Estate Junior Grammar School | Government | JSS 1-3 |
Ajao Estate Senior Grammar School | Government | SSS 1-3 |
Apata Memorial High School | Government | JSS and SSS |
Ajumoni Junior Grammar School | Government | JSS 1-3 |
Ilamoye Senior Grammar School | Government | SSS 1-3 |
What Are the Private Secondary Schools in Ajao Estate Lagos?
Several approved private secondary schools operate within and along the Ajao Estate corridor. These schools offer alternatives to the public institutions and typically combine nursery, primary, and secondary education on one campus.
What Is Aaresther Divine Secondary School?
Aaresther Divine Secondary School is located at 1 New World Street, Ajao Estate, Oshodi-Isolo, Lagos. It is one of the recognised private secondary institutions in the estate and appears on the list of top secondary schools in Lagos State.
What Is The Delightful Favour Palace Academy?
The Delightful Favour Palace Academy is located at 19B Adewunmi Abudu Street, off Osolo Way, Ajao Estate, Isolo, Lagos. Contact: 09090001308. It is an approved private school operating in the Ajao Estate area.
What Is Binta International School?
Binta International Schools was established in Ejigbo in 1994 and later opened in Ajao Estate, Isolo. It operates a creche, nursery, basic, and secondary school. The school was founded by Wale Adenuga and has maintained a presence in the Ajao Estate community since its Isolo expansion.
What Other Private Schools Serve the Ajao Estate Area?
Private schools located along roads connecting to or bordering Ajao Estate include:
- Kamsy Mon’Essori School (KMS) – 12 Akinola Sholanke Street, off Fatai Irawo Street, beside Ajao Estate Police Station, Isolo, Lagos
- Jeffersons Schools – 16 Edun Street, Mafoluku, Oshodi
- Bessie International Schools – 1/3 Wahab Larinde Street, Furniture Bus Stop, Mafoluku, Oshodi
How Do Private and Government Secondary Schools in Ajao Estate Compare?
Feature | Government Schools | Private Schools |
Tuition fees | Subsidised by Lagos State | Paid by parents |
Class sizes | Larger | Smaller |
Curriculum | NERDC / WAEC | NERDC / WAEC / Cambridge |
Admission process | Based on BECE results | Direct entry with screening |
Levels covered | JSS or SSS separately | Often combined JSS and SSS |
What Curriculum Do Secondary Schools in Ajao Estate Follow?
Secondary schools in Ajao Estate follow the National Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) curriculum. Students sit the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) conducted by WAEC at the end of SSS 3.
Some private schools also offer the National Examinations Council (NECO) SSCE as an alternative to WAEC. A small number of private institutions near the estate offer Cambridge International qualifications alongside the Nigerian curriculum.
What Examinations Do Students Sit in Secondary Schools in Ajao Estate?
Students in secondary schools in Ajao Estate sit 3 major external examinations:
- Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) – at the end of JSS 3
- West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) – at the end of SSS 3
- Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) – for university admission after SSS 3
The UTME is conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). A minimum score of 140 out of 400 is required for most public university admissions in Nigeria, though specific institutions set their own cut-off marks.
What Are the Admission Requirements for Secondary Schools in Ajao Estate?
Government Schools
Admission into Ajao Estate Junior Grammar School requires:
- Primary school leaving certificate
- Common Entrance Examination results
- Birth certificate
- Passport photographs
Admission into Ajao Estate Senior Grammar School requires a BECE result from an approved junior secondary school.
Private Schools
Private secondary schools in Ajao Estate conduct their own entrance assessments. Requirements typically include:
- Primary school report cards (last 2 terms)
- Birth certificate
- Passport photographs
- School entrance examination
- Parent or guardian identification
What Factors Should Parents Consider When Choosing a Secondary School in Ajao Estate?
There are 5 key factors to consider:
- Accreditation – confirm the school is approved by the Lagos State Ministry of Education
- Academic performance – check WAEC results and university admission records
- Location – consider proximity to home and ease of transportation
- Fees – compare tuition costs across private schools against your budget
- Facilities – assess classrooms, laboratories, libraries, and sports infrastructure
The Federal Ministry of Education is the body in charge of the approval of secondary schools in Lagos and anywhere else in Nigeria. Parents can verify a school’s approval status through the Lagos State Ministry of Education or the Office for Education Quality Assurance (OEQA Lagos).
What Is the OEQA and How Does It Affect Schools in Ajao Estate?
The Office for Education Quality Assurance (OEQA) Lagos is the body responsible for monitoring and approving private schools in Lagos State. Schools listed on the OEQA approved list have met minimum standards for infrastructure, qualified teachers, and curriculum delivery.
Parents should request a school’s OEQA approval number before enrolling a child. Unapproved schools risk closure by the Lagos State government, which can disrupt a student’s academic progress.
Which Secondary Schools Near Ajao Estate Are Highly Regarded in Oshodi-Isolo?
Apata Memorial High School is a recognised government secondary school in the Oshodi-Isolo LGA and serves students from communities close to Ajao Estate, including those from Ire-Akari Estate in Isolo. Apata Memorial High School is listed among the top secondary schools in Lagos State, located at Plot 36/42 Godwin Omonua Street, Ire-Akari Estate, Isolo.
Ansar-ud-deen College Isolo is another established institution in the Oshodi-Isolo area. It is a faith-based school with a long-standing academic record in Lagos State.
What Transport Options Are Available for Students in Ajao Estate?
Students in Ajao Estate use 3 main transport options to access secondary schools:
- Commercial buses (danfo) – routes along Airport Road, Osolo Way, and Fatai Irawo Street
- Motorcycles (okada) – for shorter distances within the estate
- Private vehicles – used by students attending private schools
The 7&8 Bus Stop is the main entry point for students commuting from outside the estate. Osolo Way connects students travelling from the Isolo and Aswani axis to schools within Ajao Estate.
Lukmon Isiaq is a Lagos-based property researcher and street-level writer who has spent years studying the Ajah corridor the way most people never bother: on foot, in compounds, and in conversation with landlords, tenants, caretakers, and estate agents who operate where the listings end and the real story begins.
He is not a property developer. He is not a real estate marketer. He is the person you call before you sign anything. The one who has personally walked flood-prone streets after October rain, argued with agents over undisclosed charges, and documented how the Lagos housing market actually works for ordinary Nigerians trying to make serious decisions with serious money.
His writing on Abraham Adesanya Estate Lekki Ajah covers the Ajah corridor, Ikota Villa, Ajao Estate, Ogudu GRA, and the wider Lekki property market with one consistent standard: the honest version, not the brochure version.
He understands the gap between what a listing promises and what a tenant discovers on their first rainy season.
