woodcook:

I definitely agree with you that school plays a part in a child's outlook towards life. I strongly believe that what you get in those "expensive" schools you could still get in most schools around. Think about this; no matter how "expensive" the school you attended was, you definitely going to attend same university with people from the so called "less" expensive schools which by default would consist a larger proportion of your class mate even if the child is fortunate to study abroad. What I definitely would do is to send my child to any good school around no matter how much I earn not the so called elite secondary schools. One thing I owe that child is to send the child to the best university in the world. You know why? what determines how a child respond to the society or sees himself are not really found in secondary school rather in higher institution.
If you think this through, most of the relationships/connections you have now were built in the university not secondary schools and the greatest influence in your life in terms of career and personal development were all triggered by people you met in the uni and not in secondary secondary. Going by my favorite quote; of what use is to me if my parents after sending me to "Loyola" I ended up attending one university in Berkshire, London and not Cambridge or Harvard or MIT and co? My point is if you want to spend so much on a child's education please spend it at the right time and place not just throw it away because your neighbors or colleagues kids are attending a particular school so yours must attend to.

Well said. That has always been my take. Why spend so much at high school level and end-up in a Nigerian university? I'm of the view that a better plan for a child is to spend moderately at nursery, elementary, and secondary school levels, then uitilize the savings for the child's university education in any of the best universities abroad ( or at least, let the child undertake a 1-year masters programme  in any of the best universities abroad).

However you look at it, this is commendable. We need to encourage other Nigerian Elites to take their cue from Mr. Offor.