For years, affluent Nigerians have been sending their children to prestigious British boarding schools. Now, however, some of those schools are taking a new step: setting up campuses in Nigeria, Africa's most populous country.
Last year, Charterhouse launched a primary school in Lagos and will open a secondary school this September. Similarly, Rugby School will begin offering secondary education in September as well. Other renowned institutions such as Millfield, Wellington College, and Harrow are also exploring opportunities in Nigeria.
This shift, of course, comes with a significant price tag for Nigerian parents. However, Nigeria’s elite have long sent their children to the UK for secondary education, attracted by the British curriculum's rigor, prestige, and global opportunities.
"I'm excited about it," says Karima Oyede, a British-Nigerian management consultant. Her son, who is currently in Year 10 at Rugby in the UK, will transfer to Rugby School in Lagos this September. Her family has been planning to move to Nigeria for some time, but held off due to concerns over the children's education. "Having the opportunity to experience the British system in his country of origin is the best of both worlds," she adds.
While Nigeria already has a large number of private schools, the arrival of internationally recognized educational institutions will appeal to many parents, especially those who want their children to retain their cultural identity.
"African parents love the fact that they are giving their children international standing so they can compete globally, but they don’t want their children to lose their African-ness," explains Ijay Uwakwe-Okoronkwo, founder of the Nkuzhi Learning Foundation in Abuja. Uwakwe-Okoronkwo, who advises parents on international boarding schools, notes that many parents are wary of the more relaxed, less respectful attitudes some children develop after studying abroad.
This cultural dilemma extends to sensitive issues such as LGBTQ rights. In Nigeria, same-sex relationships and public displays of affection are illegal, and homosexuality is not openly discussed or promoted. New British schools in Nigeria are mindful of this cultural context. For instance, while the UK-based Charterhouse displays a rainbow flag, the Nigerian campus does not.
“We are a British independent school, but we’re very much aware of Nigerian cultural needs,” says John Todd, head of Charterhouse Nigeria. "There’s a huge concern about Western cultural views. For parents here, it’s a big issue, and it's one of the reasons they’re hesitant about UK schools."
British institutions in Nigeria must comply with local laws, Todd acknowledges, adding, “We are 100% compliant.” Understanding the country’s religious culture, Charterhouse also allows parents to take their children home for Sunday church services and return by Monday morning.
The interest from British schools in Nigeria is fueled by several factors. Unlike the Middle East and China, which are already saturated with international schools, Africa remains largely untapped.
“Nigeria is the gateway to Africa, and Africa is the last continent for British schools to establish campuses in,” says Mark Brooks, an export champion for the UK's Department for Business and Trade. He organizes annual events in Nigeria where around 20 British schools meet prospective students and parents.
“Nigeria has a great reputation for producing high-achieving students,” Brooks adds. "No school I work with hasn’t had a Nigerian student serve as head boy or deputy head boy. I’ve brought hundreds of headteachers to Nigeria, and word is out in the UK: we need to take Nigeria seriously.”
The timing of this expansion is crucial, given the rising costs of sending children to the UK. Just three years ago, the exchange rate was 500 naira to £1; now it’s 2,200 naira to £1. Additionally, the UK government recently imposed a 20% VAT on private school fees.
On top of tuition, families face extra expenses like flights for students and visiting parents. By establishing schools in Nigeria, British institutions offer families a way to maintain the same standard of education while significantly reducing financial strain. For instance, Charterhouse’s annual fees in the UK are around £60,000 ($78,000), while fees at its Lagos campus are approximately £15,000.
“Our main teachers are expatriates, but 90% of the staff are local,” says Todd. The school can reduce costs by employing locals in administrative, security, and maintenance roles, which are cheaper than in the UK.
Although Nigeria already has a significant education gap, with many parents opting for private schools, the influx of British institutions may not drastically alter the system. However, it could create competition for established elite schools like the British International School in Lagos and The Regent School in Abuja, which have long been the top choices for wealthier families.
“Rugby School Nigeria is coming to help support and learn from the schools already in Nigeria,” says Brooks. “We’re here to partner, provide teacher training, and launch a range of initiatives.”
Todd believes the market in Nigeria is large enough to accommodate new schools without threatening existing ones. Around 40% of Nigeria’s 200 million population is under 14, which means there is considerable room for growth in the education sector.
As for the UK-based institutions, Todd believes the greatest impact will be in the UK. While Charterhouse UK will likely continue to have a waiting list, less competitive boarding schools may see a decline in enrollment due to new competition in Nigeria.
“Interest in our secondary school is already very strong,” Todd says, adding that some Nigerian parents currently sending their children to the UK have decided to transfer them to the Lagos campus this September.
Marketing efforts have focused on attracting Nigerian families in the UK. "You get this premier brand at a lower price, and every Nigerian has an aunt or uncle in Lagos who can serve as a guardian,” Todd explains.
This trend could extend to British universities as well. Nigeria’s higher education system faces even more challenges than its secondary education sector, with many students opting to study abroad. In 2023, Nigeria ranked among the top 10 countries for UK student visas, according to UK government data. However, with rising foreign exchange difficulties and stricter visa regulations, studying abroad is becoming increasingly difficult.
Earlier this year, British MP Helen Hayes, chair of the parliamentary Education Committee, noted that the UK’s higher education sector is in trouble. “Dozens of universities are making redundancies and cutting courses to stay afloat,” she said, acknowledging uncertainty around where universities’ funding will come from.
Suppose Nigerian students can no longer afford to study abroad. In that case, British universities may find it more profitable to bring their campuses to Nigeria, following a similar trend seen in other parts of the world. After all, Nigeria’s University of Ibadan was established in 1948 as a campus of the University of London, offering degrees that carried the same prestige.
Uwakwe-Okoronkwo believes many Nigerian parents would appreciate such an opportunity, as it would allow their children to mature in their home country before possibly studying abroad. "Many parents worry about sending their children out of the nest too early,” she says.
For Karima Oyede, whose daughter will also attend rugby school in Lagos, the opening of British schools in Nigeria is just the right time. She sees the opportunity as a perfect reason to return home, with the added benefit of potential university prospects for her children.
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