Ibadan city, being one of the biggest in Africa and the largest in Oyo State, has about 3 million population and more than 3,000 secondary schools.
In spite of the drowning state of education within the state, private schools have been researched to be the best schools in the state and very few parents splash millions to enrol their children. Hence, the patronage for the following schools is an exclusive reservation for parents who can afford them.
1. LIFEFORTE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL: Built on 24 acres of land at Apete area of Ibadan, it was establshed in 1990 by Pastor and Mrs Sarah Olubi-Johnson. The co-educational private Christian institution consists of the pre-school, junior and high schools for children between the ages of 3-18 years, with students from Britain, North and South America, Canada and Australia. It is also divided into school and residential compounds.
To boost its international relevance, Lifeforte has a travel agency- Biscordint to cater for students and parents travelling from different parts of the world. Other facilities Lifeforte affords that distinguishes it are the newly completed ultra-modern sports complex which has a heated 25 metre competition, swimming pool with a 320 seater pavilion, a multipurpose playing court with a 400 seater pavilion, and an artificial turf junior football pitch surrounded by a 6 lane tartan track; a fully equipped gymnasium and first-aid centre; clean water is supplied via 5 boreholes and three 5000KVA generators supplying electricity With all these, parents know what millions their tutions cost.
2. The International School of Ibadan (ISI): Established in 1963 by the management of the University of Ibadan, ISI is one of the first private schools in Nigeria providing learning platform for children within Nigeria and beyond. The tuition fees of children range between N132, 000 for creche and Cambridge Advanced Level of N550, 000.
It also offers Day and Boarding facilities for secondary students.
The notable alumni of the institution like Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (Nigeria’s former Finance Minister and world bank economist), Omobola Johnson (Nigeria’s former Communications Minister), Femi Emiola (American actress), Tolu Ogunlesi (Nigerian journalist), Chief Bolaji Ayorinde, SAN, Professor Kunle Fagbemi, a renowned academic at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, Bill Ivy (Canadian Veteran Photographer and Author), Helen Prest-Ajayi (Miss Nigeria 1979) and Funmi Iyanda (Nigerian television personality), contributed to reasons why the reputation of the school scales higher.
3. The Vale College
The Vale College is a co-educational secondary school founded in 1994 by Solemilia Educational Trust. Located in the heart of a minimum density Government Reservation Area, TVC offers both boarding and day facilities. The college has its own electrical transformer, borehole and water treatment facility, and generating plant to ensure uninterrupted water and power supply. It`s one of the best private secondary schools in Ibadan. The registration fee is N10,000 and just a maximum of 50 students are admitted into a grade of any class per year with two arms of 25 students in each arm.
The Vale Tutorial Centre, an offshoot of Vale College specializes in A-level examinations that qualify students for the U.K. universities or for direct entry to 200 Level in Nigerian universities and also provides coaching in SAT and TOEFL, for students wishing to pursue university education in the U.S.A.
With TVC’s standard, no student can be allowed into class or hostel from the start of the term if his/school fee has not been fully paid.
4. George And Duke International College (GDIC)
George And Duke International College (GDIC) is located at GDIC Close, Felele , Ibadan, Oyo State. The objective of the George and Duke’s institution is to educate future leaders. The college has professional and qualified teachers to support their goals in providing international standard education. They provide Technology, Arts and Business subjects to support the future goals of students. Students also enjoy access to a professional library as well as wide learning resources.
In order to cater for the health of the students and staff, GDIC has affiliation with medicare organization. The school offers both day and boarding facilities.
5. Rubies International College
Rubies is a private christian co-educational secondary school established in September 2007 by Pastor Moses Aderogba Amure and Pastor Esther (Mrs)Olufunmilayo Amure
of The Redeemed Christian Church of God. It’s located at Felele Straight End of Expressroad
Link in Ibadan. Felele is known to be one of the most expensive and serene environments in Ibadan conducive for learning as it is devoid of noise and other distractions.
Other facilities that add up with the cost of the school are these: day and boarding facilities, equipped music studio, sports facilities include multi-purpose courts, grass-playing fields, badminton, basketball, table tennis,snooker board and indoor games and an organized transport system for the mobility of their students.
6. Christ Ambassadors International College
The school was founded in September 1998 by Dr. Yele Bademosi. This school is situated at 3, Baale Osuntokun Road in Ibadan. Christ Ambassadors International College has a history of students from all over the world; from countries such as the U.K, U.S.A, Canada , Lebanon, Ireland, Ghana and Sierra-lone.
The school also has an affiliate treatment center called ZOE Specialist Mission Hospital apart from the established school clinic. CAIC has a muster zone in case of fire outbreaks and fire drills, under the auspices of the state fire service officers are done periodically in the school.
7. Lead City International School
Lead City International School Jericho, Ibadan, is a private, co- educational high school, situated in a serene environment. The school is owned by the proprietors of Lead City University, a Federal Government-approved private university. The school offers qualitative education in wide range of subjects at the junior and senior secondary levels. In addition, it offers tuition for IGCSE, SAT and TOEFL.
Some of the features of the school include: varied cultural and extra mural programmes; elocution and etiquette classes; easy progression to Lead City University; nicely furnished and well-ventilated classrooms; comfortable boarding facilities of four students per room.
From findings, the admission fee of any student is N150,000. Although, the regular school fees of returning students are unverified but one could easily tell how expensive that could be.
The school has a well-equipped library, ICT, Science and Basic Technology laboratories, specialist Art, Music and French rooms, an ultra modern sports complex with a swimming pool, comfortable boarding facilities, a school clinic, and 2 function halls.
