Catholic boys' secondary school in Akoka, founded 1956 by Father Denis Slattery. Historically strong sports (football) programme — several Super Eagles alumni. Nigerian curriculum. Affordable Catholic mission pricing.
Fee breakdown
Tuition range
₦100.0K–280.0K
/yr · 2025/2026
Estimated first-year total
₦280.0K
tuition + extras
L
Lagos.Cool Editorial
2 May 2026 · 2 min read
About this school — St Finbarr's College
St Finbarr's College, founded 1956 by Father Denis Slattery, an Irish SMA missionary, is the Catholic Mainland boys' school that Lagos knows for two things: WAEC results and football. The Akoka campus produced generations of Super Eagles players (Sam Okwaraji, Kanu Nwankwo's Finbarr's year, Muyiwa Oshinaike, plus multiple lesser-known professionals) alongside its academic output. Father Slattery's legacy of combining serious academics with competitive sports remains the school's brand three generations later. Fees are moderate for a school of its Catholic mission stature and its Mainland location.
Father Denis Slattery arrived in Nigeria as an SMA missionary in 1941 and served as a Catholic priest across multiple parishes before founding St Finbarr's in 1956. His conviction — that serious academic instruction and competitive sports could be combined in a Catholic mission secondary school — shaped the school's brand for six decades. The football tradition is genuine and well-documented: Sam Okwaraji (later capped by Nigeria before his tragic death in 1989), Kanu Nwankwo's Finbarr's year (which included multiple professional footballers), Muyiwa Oshinaike, and generations of professional footballers in Nigerian, West African, and European leagues. The school's scholarship programme for exceptional footballers with academic potential remains active. The annual Slattery Football Tournament (in memory of the founder) is a fixture in the Lagos secondary school calendar.
Strengths & trade-offs
✓ Strengths
✓Founded 1956 by Father Denis Slattery
✓Catholic mission with strong football tradition
✓Multiple Super Eagles alumni (Sam Okwaraji, Kanu's Finbarr's year, others)
✓Football scholarships available
✓85-95% WAEC credit-pass
✓Akoka Mainland catchment
✗ Trade-offs
✗Catholic ethos ethos non-negotiable
✗Day-only
✗Boys-only
✗No IGCSE
✗Application fee ₦15,000
Facilities & campus
●Akoka campus
●Four academic blocks
●4 science laboratories
●Chapel
●Assembly hall
●Historic football pitch
●Smaller training pitch
●Basketball courts
●College library
Curriculum & exam pathway
Accreditations
• Federal Ministry of Education Nigeria
• WAEC
• Catholic Society of African Missions
University destinations
UNILAGLASUCovenantBabcockNigerian State universitiesManchesterWarwickTorontoProfessional football contracts (Nigerian and West African clubs)
Admission process
JS1 entry via school entrance examination held in April and August. Non-refundable ₦15,000 application fee. Common Entrance results considered supplementarily. Catholic families receive priority within academic-merit ranking. Football scholarships offered — approximately 8–12 places per year for exceptional footballers with academic potential.
JS1 entrance examination held April and August. The examination covers English, Mathematics, and Verbal Reasoning at end-of-primary level. Application fee ₦15,000. Catholic family priority is documented; sibling priority applies. Football-scholarship route requires demonstration of football aptitude alongside academic minimum — approximately 8-12 scholarship places per year. Common Entrance results considered supplementarily. Christian Religious Studies is compulsory throughout. Interview with the Principal for shortlisted candidates plus a parent interview to confirm alignment with the Catholic mission ethos.
Extracurriculars
Football (nationally recognised programme)BasketballAthleticsSlattery Football Tournament (annual)Music ensembleDramaDebateChessBible study
Tuition is only part of the bill. Here's what families actually pay:
Uniform + PE kit₦30,000–₦55,000
Books + WAEC entries₦30,000–₦100,000/yr
Lunch₦80,000–₦150,000/yr
PTA + development levy₦15,000–₦30,000/yr
Campus & facilities
The Akoka campus includes standard academic buildings across four blocks, four science labs, a chapel, an assembly hall, a well-maintained football pitch (the storied pitch that produced Super Eagles), a smaller training pitch, basketball courts, and the college library. Day-only. The football pitch is arguably the most historically significant patch of grass in Nigerian secondary-school football.
The Akoka campus has been progressively developed since 1956. Facilities include four academic blocks organised across the Akoka plot, four science laboratories, the Catholic chapel dedicated in 1962, an assembly hall used for weekly community assemblies and end-of-year prize-giving, the historic football pitch (the storied pitch where multiple Super Eagles alumni trained), a smaller training pitch, basketball courts, the college library, an art room, a music room, and a music/drama block. Power runs on Ikeja Electric grid + 100KVA generator + inverter. Water from LSWC pipe with onsite borehole backup. Day-only.
Priority is given to Catholic families but non-Catholic boys are welcome. Christian Religious Studies is compulsory. Non-Catholic pupils attend morning assembly with Catholic prayers but are not compelled to receive sacraments.
Very. The football programme is nationally recognised — multiple Super Eagles players are alumni. The school runs competitive teams from JS1 upwards and hosts the annual Slattery Football Tournament in memory of the founder. Football scholarships exist.
Moderately competitive. Around 400 applicants for 120 places typical. The football-scholarship route is more competitive per place. Academic merit and Catholic connection are the two main filters.
Consistently 85–95% credit-pass in core subjects. Sciences and mathematics are the traditional strengths. English-language pass rates reflect the school's Irish missionary academic tradition.
Yes — multiple Super Eagles internationals have come through the school, including from the 1990s golden generation. The school is a recognised recruitment pipeline for Nigerian and West African professional clubs, though the majority of leavers still pursue university.