Native outfit Charterhouse Nigeria, a branch of the British independent school, is making a splash by appealing to local cultural aspirations while providing a top-notch education. Headed by John Todd, the school stands as a testament to the growing trend of British educational institutions seeking opportunities in Nigeria. Charterhouse Nigeria takes a different approach and encourages immersion into local culture, allowing students to participate in Sunday church services with their families. Simultaneously, it’s the custodian of a strong British educational tradition.
Here’s how expatriate teachers enhance the classrooms, imparting a holistic perspective. A local workforce of diverse backgrounds swaggers in with 90% local hire. This means positions in administration, finance, human resources, and other critical supporting roles. This arrangement guarantees that Charterhouse is 100% compliant with Nigerian laws, while gaining from local expertise and support. The school’s fees are significantly lower than its UK counterpart, with Charterhouse UK’s annual fees reaching approximately £60,000 ($78,000), compared to around £15,000 for its Lagos campus.
John Todd emphasizes the school’s dual commitment: “We’re a British independent school but sitting firmly within Nigerian cultural needs.” This blend of British and Nigerian influences appeals to parents who are cautious about Western cultural views yet want their children to receive an internationally competitive education.
British schools are already moving into Nigeria, driven by economic squeeze in the UK. On top of this, the UK Labour government’s 20% VAT on private school fees is massively increasing their operational costs. Furthermore, Mark Brooks, an export champion for the UK’s Department for Business and Trade, highlights Nigeria’s potential: “Nigeria is the gateway to Africa, and Africa is kind of the last continent for British schools to establish in.”
Charterhouse Nigeria, which recently opened a primary school in Lagos and is set to launch a secondary school there this September. Rugby School is scheduled to introduce secondary education at rugby-school-1722 secondary level at the same time. A central plank of the strategy for this expansion is outreach / marketing campaigns aimed at Nigerians living in the UK.
Karima Oyede, a British-Nigerian management consultant based in Lagos, is counting the months until her six-year-old son can enroll in Charterhouse Nigeria’s Lagos school. She appreciates that he will experience “the best of both worlds” by receiving a British education in his home country.
Other elite British schools such as Millfield, Wellington School and Harrow are looking at Nigeria. Based on John Todd’s assessments, the market in Nigeria is big enough that new competitors only improve service without putting established institutions at risk. “You get this premier brand at a lower price,” Todd notes, emphasizing the affordability and accessibility of high-quality education in Nigeria.
Mark Brooks underscores the country’s reputation for academic excellence: “Nigeria has an incredible reputation for producing driven, high-achieving students.” His comments are supported by most Nigerian students finding great success in leadership positions within UK schools.
The passion driving this educational renaissance is echoed by Ijay Uwakwe-Okoronkwo, founder of the Nkuzhi Learning Foundation in Abuja. She notes that African parents value international education standards but “don’t want their children to lose their African-ness.”