Why British Schools -Intelligence is so eager to open in Nigeria

For many years, perfect Nigerians have sent their children to prestigious British boarding schools – but now some of these institutions are creating campuses in the most popular nation in Africa.

Last year, Charterhouse launched elementary school in Lagos and opened high school in September this September.

The Rugby School will also start offering secondary education in September. Other well -known institutions such as Milfield, Velington and Harow are also studying opportunities in Nigeria.

This is obviously coming with the price tag for the Nigerians’ parents – but the country’s well -bothered elite has historically sent their children to the UK for secondary education, attracted to rigor, prestige and global capabilities of the British curriculum.

“I am really delighted with this,” says Karim Oider, a British management consultant whose son is currently in Rugby in the UK, but in September he will move to Lagos school.

Her family meant to move to Nigeria for a while, but did not do it before the children’s education.

“Having the opportunity to experience the British system in its country of origin is the best of both worlds,” she says.

Nigeria already has the spread of private schools, but a high -quality, worldly recognized education in the country will appeal to many parents, especially those who want to preserve their children’s cultural identity.

“African parents love the fact that they give their children an international situation so they can compete with their colleagues in any other part of the world, but they do not want their children to lose their African nasty,” says Yaja-Coard, founder of the Nkuzhi Training Fund in Nigeria, Abuja.

The education consultant who advises parents and schools on international landing options explains the more calm and less respectful relationships with which the children return after school abroad is not always valued.

This cultural dilemma extends to the growing conversation on LGBTC. Same -sex relationships and public attitudes are illegal in Nigeria, and homosexuality is not openly discussed or promoted.

He took a new crop on British schools on board. For example, while Charterhouse UK reflects the rainbow flag, the Nigeria School does not.

“We are a British independent school, but we are firmly sitting in Nigerian cultural needs,” says John Tod, head of the Nigeria Charter House.

“There is a great concern of Western cultural views.

“For parents here we know that this is a really big problem. This is the reason when parents are worried about the UK schools.

“I’m not pleased – it’s just as it is.”

He admits that there is nothing left at the British Institutes of Nigeria, as to “follow the Law of the Earth”, adding: “We are 100% in line.”

Recognizing the deeply religious Nigeria Religious Society, Charthaus also allows parents to take their children home from the boarding house for Sunday church services, waiting for them back to Monday morning.

There are several reasons for the increasing interest of prestigious British schools in the opening of campus in Nigeria.

While regions such as the Middle East and China are already saturated with international schools, Africa is regarding the Virgin.

“Nigeria is a gateway to Africa, and Africa is the last continent for the creation of British schools,” says Mark Brooks, champion for the export department of business and trade.

It organizes annual events in Nigeria, where about 20 British schools meet with future students and parents.

“Nigeria has an incredible reputation for moving, high-level students,” says Mr. Brooks.

“There is no school with which I work with, which has recently not been a Nigerian student who served as the chief boy or the deputy chief boy. The student may join the sixth form and eventually become the main boy throughout the year.

“I brought hundreds of the main teachers to Nigeria for many years, and the word is out in the UK that we need to take Nigeria seriously.”

The terms were also key as the cost of sending children to the UK has increased. Just three years ago, the local currency exchange rate amounted to 500 Nairs to 1 pound; Now it is 2200 nara.

In addition, the Labor Government recently introduced 20% VAT to collect private schools.

In addition to learning, families face additional costs such as flights for both students and parents.

The creation of these schools in Nigeria allows families to support the same level of education while reducing financial voltage.

For example, the annual Charterhouse UK fees are about 60,000 pounds ($ 78,000), while the Lagos campus fee is equivalent to about £ 15,000.

“Our main teachers in the class are expatriates, but 90% of employees are local,” says Mr. Tod.

Working with local people in such roles as teachers’ assistants, administration, finance, human resources, marketing, objects, security, gardeners, drivers, pas and secretaries, the school can significantly reduce costs compared to the UK, where work is much more expensive.

Nigeria already has a huge gap in education, and many parents choose private education of different quality. Many are struggling to pay higher fees rather than send children to public schools, which are often free but suffer from poorly trained teachers and frequent blows.

As a result, the arrival of British schools cannot dramatically change the Nigerian education system.

However, they can threaten the established elite schools such as the British International School in Lagos and the Regent School in Abuja, which opened in the early 2000s.

Such schools have long been the main choice for those who are able to pay annual tuition fees that often reach tens of thousands of dollars.

“The Rugby Nigeria School also comes to support, development and study in schools now in Nigeria,” says Mr. Brooks, who is responsible for marketing school.

“We are also going to help partnerships, teachers’ training and a number of initiatives.”

Mr. Todd believes that the Nigerian market is large enough to place all new schools without threatening existing ones. About 40% of the 200 million population is less than 14 years.

He expects the greatest influence felt in the UK.

While Charterhouse UK usually has a long expectation list and is not affected, less sought-after boarding schools may experience a decrease in enrollment due to a new competition in Nigeria.

“Interest in our high school is very strong,” says Mr. Tod. “We already have Nigeria’s parents in the UK who send children to Charter in Nigeria in September.”

In fact, the Nigerians in the UK became one of their key marketing strategies.

“You get this main brand at a lower price, and every Nigerian has an aunt or an uncle in Lagos,” who can become a guardian, he adds.

Perhaps this trend extends to British universities. The third Nigeria education system faces even greater problems than its secondary sector, and many students decided to study abroad.

In 2023, Nigeria was among the 10 countries for the UK student visas, according to the UK government.

But with the difficulty of currency and tougher visa rules, studying abroad is becoming increasingly difficult – and universities that count on higher international tuition fees are suffering.

Earlier this month, British MP Helen Heis, Chairman of the Parliamentary Education Committee, acknowledged that the UK higher education sector was in trouble.

“Dozens of universities make dismissal and cuts for courses, trying to stay afloat amid uncertainty, where their money comes from,” ” She said when announced the session to consider the future sector.

If enough Nigerian students can no longer go to the UK to study, British universities can fall advantageous to them because they have elsewhere in the world.

In fact, Nigeria’s main university, the University of Ibadan, was created in 1948 as a campus of the University of London, and the degree gained the same value and prestige.

Mrs. Vokaronok believes that many parents of the Nigerians will appreciate this opportunity, as it would allow their children to stay in Nigeria long enough to find out before potentially moving abroad if they decide to do so.

“Many parents are worried that it is too early to send children out of the nest,” she says.

For Ms. Oeeda, whose daughter will also start at the Rugby School in Lagos, will come in September, the timing of this cannot be better.

He says the opening of the British school was already “an incentive to return home”.

The prospect of university opportunities will be a desirable bonus.

Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani is a freelance Nigerian journalist and novelist based in Abuja and London.