As Prince Charles International School, Olodi-Apapa, prepares to celebrate its 25th anniversary this Saturday, December 6, 2025, the institution is basking in renewed recognition—crowned recently by Google as the best school in the entire Olodi-Apapa axis.
For a school that began in a modest wooden structure in Ajegunle,a community long stereotyped for its social challenges,the milestone is more than a celebration. It is a statement that excellence can flourish even in the most unlikely environments.
The proprietress, Mrs. Nkem Fidelia Anumodu, says the global recognition comes as both a surprise and a validation of two and a half decades of “consistent hard work, discipline, and unwavering faith in what quality education can do for a child.”
A Vision Born in a Difficult Moment
Mrs. Anumodu recalls that the idea for the school was conceived during a prolonged academic strike—at a time when she was combining her teaching job with a professional course at the university.
“One morning, after serving my husband breakfast, he advised that I should make use of the small plot of land we had to start a school,” she said. “That simple suggestion has grown into a 25-year journey filled with growth, sacrifice and impact.”
The school, which started with a hut and a handful of pupils, now boasts modern classrooms, a well-equipped boarding facility, and a fleet of buses that transport students from across the district.
The Secret Behind the School’s Ranking
While reluctant to compare her school with others, the proprietor insists that Prince Charles International operates on a deliberate, research-driven system anchored on British-style learning modules.
“Our benchmark is scientific,” she said. “We build foundational strength early, and our methods prepare the children for the world they will face. Staff training is a constant; no school can rise above the quality of its teachers.”
She emphasizes that running a school successfully goes beyond profit-making.
“Education must be driven by passion,” she said. “You need proper financing, integrity, continuous staff development, and the discipline to maintain standards year after year.”
The school also contributes to local employment, providing jobs within the community and ensuring timely remuneration for all categories of staff.
Policies and Progress in Lagos Education
Mrs. Anumodu praised Lagos State for instituting policies that have helped the education sector thrive, but noted that implementation gaps sometimes slow down the full benefits of those reforms.
“The policies are sound. The challenge is often with the execution by those tasked with enforcement,” she explained.
Aside from running the school, she has authored several academic books now used by students across the district.
25th Anniversary Activities
The forthcoming silver jubilee celebration will feature a thanksgiving service, student leadership activities, debate sessions, cultural presentations, and the symbolic “One-Day Student Principal” programme—an initiative introduced to inspire leadership and responsibility among learners.
In previous editions, top-performing students from Year 10 and Year 8 have stepped into leadership roles as Principal, Vice Principal and Heads of Departments, a tradition expected to continue this weekend.
A Montessori Leader in the Badagry District
Prince Charles International is also recognized as the leading Montessori practitioner within the Badagry Education District, following an independent assessment of its literacy and numeracy outcomes, teacher effectiveness, and adherence to the Montessori learning philosophy.
According to evaluators, the school has remained a model for structured early childhood education, despite operating in one of Lagos’ most densely populated and underserved areas.
A Quarter-Century of Excellence
As the school counts down to its 25th anniversary, parents, alumni, and education stakeholders describe the achievement as a story of vision and resilience,a school that has proven, year after year, that something remarkable can indeed come out of Ajegunle.
With fresh recognition, rising enrolment, and a quarter-century legacy of transforming learners, Prince Charles International School is poised to enter its next chapter as a reference point for educational excellence in Olodi-Apapa and beyond.
