Kemi Badenoch, the UK Minister for Business and Trade, paid a visit to Charterhouse School, West Africa’s first British independent school, on Monday, reaffirming the UK government’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s aim to provide high-quality education domestically.
She inspected the construction site of the new campus in Lekki Ajah, Lagos, with Helen Grant, the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Girls’ Education.
Recent talks between the UK and Nigeria have helped to lift constraints on Transnational Education investment in Nigeria worth approximately £50 million, allowing UK Higher Education institutions to form TNE partnerships with their Nigerian counterparts. We hope that this initial big investment in Nigeria’s education sector will pave the door for more.
The school seeks to provide a solid academic curriculum with day and boarding facilities, as well as a concentration on internal and extracurricular activities such as athletics, arts, and science.
Beginning in September 2024, it will welcome elementary and secondary school students from Nigeria and other countries.
Badenoch stated, “It’s fantastic to observe the progress of construction work at the Charterhouse facility – the first UK independent school in West Africa.
“The UK education system is rightly renowned around the world, and I hope the school will deliver a world-class learning experience to many students who choose to study here in Nigeria.”
Also, John Todd, Director of Education at Charterhouse School, stated, “We are honored to host the UK’s Secretary of State for Business and Trade to Charterhouse Lagos as we display the incredible facilities we are developing.
“As Nigeria’s first British independent school, we are proud of our British heritage, and our partnership with Charterhouse UK reaffirms our commitment to providing world-class education in Nigeria.”
“We express our gratitude to the UK government through the British Deputy High Commission in Lagos for their unwavering support over the past year.”
While in Lagos, Badenoch will meet with key businesses such as Standard Chartered Bank, Avanti Satellite Communications, and IHS Towers, as well as the British development finance institution, British International Investment (BII), to discuss trade and investment opportunities for both sides.
