In Lagos, a new wave of education is reshaping the future of young minds. Instead of confining entrepreneurship to theory and textbooks, some private secondary schools are turning classrooms into launchpads for real-world business ventures.
Here, students aren’t just learning how businesses work—they’re creating and running their own profitable enterprises before they even graduate.
This hands-on approach blends academics with practical experience, encouraging innovation, problem-solving, and self-reliance... Read complete content click link below
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Pupils take on every aspect of running a company—product development, branding, marketing, finance, and customer engagement—while serving real customers and generating real income. The result is a generation of young Nigerians equipped not just with academic knowledge, but with the entrepreneurial grit to thrive in today’s economy.
1. British International School (BIS)
Founded in 2001, the British International School (BIS) in Lagos has built a reputation as a leading private institution that integrates academic excellence with entrepreneurial education. The school offers a customized British National Curriculum adapted to the West African context, including unique additions like Yoruba and regional studies.
Entrepreneurship here is far from theoretical. Through the “Young Innovators Hub,” students develop and execute real business projects—ranging from upcycled fashion lines to basic technological tools for waste management. They participate in workshops covering e-commerce strategies, customer behavior, and product testing. Students even collaborate on real-world challenges brought in by small businesses and NGOs, gaining invaluable client experience.
Each year, BIS hosts a business showcase where students pitch their ventures to local investors and grant providers. While many projects remain school-based, some have scaled into ongoing businesses with external funding and mentorship. This practical approach ensures that students graduate with both academic credentials and a deep understanding of Nigeria’s dynamic business environment.
2. Greensprings School
Established in 1985, Greensprings School is one of Nigeria’s premier British international schools, offering a curriculum that transitions from Montessori methods in early years to the International Baccalaureate in Sixth Form. Its entrepreneurial spirit shines through the Young Entrepreneurs Programme, where students run small cooperatives with ideas spanning organic farming, tech solutions, and fashion design.
A fully equipped makerspace—complete with 3D printers, sewing machines, and prototyping tools—allows students to turn concepts into tangible products. Business workshops cover essentials like company registration, logistics management, and digital branding, ensuring students understand the operational side of entrepreneurship.
Greensprings caps off the programme with a high-stakes pitch event judged by business professionals. Winners often receive seed funding or mentorship, giving them a head start in turning school projects into sustainable ventures. Many students also market their products at public events and online, learning firsthand how to reach and retain customers.
3. Dowen College
Located in Lekki Phase 1, Dowen College combines Nigerian and British educational systems to prepare students for BECE, Checkpoint, WASSCE, and IGCSE exams. Beyond academics, its BizTech Club provides an immersive business experience that mirrors the corporate world.
Students take on executive roles—CEO, marketing head, operations manager—and manage real enterprises on campus. Initiatives include coding classes for younger pupils and a student-run café offering healthy snacks. Using real-time data dashboards, students track income, expenses, and customer feedback, refining their decision-making skills with each cycle.
Dowen also connects pupils to the wider business community through field trips to innovation hubs and guest lectures from tech entrepreneurs. With a student-to-teacher ratio of just 7:1, the school ensures personalized mentorship, allowing students to gain deep, hands-on entrepreneurial experience before stepping into the real world.
Why This Educational Shift Matters
By embedding entrepreneurship into the curriculum, these Lagos private schools are doing more than preparing students for exams—they are nurturing problem solvers and innovators. Students graduate with the confidence to start businesses, the skills to manage them, and the resilience to navigate challenges in Nigeria’s fast-evolving economy.
This model represents a powerful shift from rote learning to experiential education, one that could inspire schools across the country to equip young Nigerians not just to find jobs, but to create them.
Source: Business Day Nigeria
