Loyola Jesuit College is a private, co-educational, boarding, secondary school in Abuja, operated by the Society of Jesus of the Roman Catholic church. The school was opened on October 2, 1996, and is named after the Society's founder, St. Ignatius of Loyola. The highly selective, six-year school has claimed the best results on the West African Examination Council (WAEC) examinations for the past seven years, as well as the best JAMB results for several of those years, and is thus regarded as one of the best secondary schools in West Africa.CampusLoyola Jesuit College is located on the outskirts of Abuja, in a small village called Gidan Mangoro. It opened its gates on October 2, 1996. Funds to construct the school were provided by the New York province of the Society of Jesus and The United States Agency for International Development, Office of American Schools and Hospitals Abroad. The Federal Government of Nigeria provided the land under a 99-year lease agreement with the Society of Jesus. College facilities include four large classroom and laboratory buildings, three dormitories accommodating 300 boys, one dormitory accommodating 300 girls, a chapel, dining hall, multi-purpose "Memorial" hall, Jesuit residence, and duplex bungalows for all the lay staff. The dormitories are Connelly, Loyola, Regis, and Xavier. Connelly is named after Cornelia Connelly, the founder of the Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus who are on the College staff. The names of the others come from the Jesuit saints Ignatius Loyola, John Francis Regis, and Francis Xavier. The 70.4acre campus is fenced to secure the safety of the students. Upon entering the LJC campus via the front gates, a statue of St. Ignatius of Loyola is seen presenting his knightly sword to the Lord, to become a Cabellero de Cristo, "Knight for Christ."