15. July 2025
Admin
Cost of Setting Up a Private School in Nigeria
Starting a private school in Nigeria is a meaningful venture, but it requires significant planning and funding. Whether you want to open a nursery, primary, or secondary school, this guide breaks down the typical costs involved and practical estimates to help you budget wisely.
Quick Insight: The cost of starting a private school depends on your scale, location, and standard. Budget can range from ₦2 million for a small nursery to over ₦100 million for a premium secondary school.
1. Land and Building Costs
If you don’t own property, land purchase and building can take 40–60% of your budget.
- Urban land (500–1000sqm): ₦3m – ₦25m+
- Building (6–12 classrooms): ₦10m – ₦40m+
- Alternative: Rent a building (₦500k – ₦2.5m yearly)
2. Furniture and Classroom Setup
Includes desks, chairs, shelves, whiteboards, and teacher tables.
- Basic per classroom: ₦200k – ₦400k
- Total (6 classes): ₦1.2m – ₦2.4m
3. Learning Materials & Library
- Textbooks, workbooks, storybooks – ₦300k – ₦1m
- Starter library (100–200 books) – ₦200k+
- Montessori materials (for nursery) – ₦500k – ₦2m
4. ICT and Administrative Equipment
- Computers (3–5 units) – ₦800k+
- Printers, inverters, fans, CCTV, Wi-Fi – ₦1m – ₦3m
- School software/ERP – ₦100k – ₦500k per year
5. Teacher Recruitment and Salaries
- Recruitment adverts and interviews – ₦100k
- Monthly salary per teacher – ₦40k – ₦150k
- Initial salary budget for 6 teachers (3 months): ₦800k – ₦2.5m
6. Licensing and Government Approvals
- Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) registration – ₦70k – ₦120k
- Ministry of Education license – ₦150k – ₦500k (varies by state)
- Health, fire, and safety inspection – ₦100k+
7. Marketing and Branding
- Signage, logo, banners – ₦200k – ₦700k
- Website and social media – ₦150k – ₦500k
- Online listing (e.g., NigeriaPrivateSchools.com) – ₦20k – ₦50k
8. School Bus (Optional)
- Tokunbo mini-bus – ₦2.5m – ₦4.5m
- New bus – ₦6m+
Start without this and add when your student population grows.
9. Miscellaneous and Running Costs
- Power (generator, inverter) – ₦1m – ₦3m
- Cleaning, uniforms, school ID cards – ₦200k – ₦500k
- Contingency reserve – ₦500k+
10. Sample Budget Breakdown
Mini School (Nursery–Primary): ₦4m – ₦8m
Mid-sized School (up to JSS3): ₦12m – ₦25m
Premium Day School (Primary–SSS): ₦35m – ₦100m+
Final Thoughts
Starting a school in Nigeria is a long-term investment. Begin with what you can afford, focus on quality, and scale gradually. Always reinvest in facilities, teachers, and branding to attract more parents and grow your school’s reputation.
Pro Tip: Always create a detailed business plan before launching. This helps avoid overspending and ensures your vision is financially viable.
