By Lucy Adautin
UK’s Minister for Business and Trade, Kemi Badenoch, visited the Charterhouse School, marking the first British independent school in West Africa on Monday.
The purpose of the visit is to further strengthen the UK government’s dedication to assisting Nigeria in providing high-quality education domestically.
Badenoch and Helen Grant, the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Girls’ Education visited the construction site of the new campus in Lekki Ajah, Lagos.
She expressed enthusiasm about the first British independent school in West Africa, even as she described the progress of the construction work at the Charterhouse site as brilliant.
“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,” she said.
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Speaking also, the Head/Director of Education at Charterhouse School, John Todd emphasised how honourable it is to welcome Badenoch to Charterhouse Lagos and to showcase the impressive facilities being built.
He said: “As Nigeria’s first British independent school, we are proud of our British heritage through our partnership with Charterhouse UK and reaffirm our commitment to delivering 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.”
The Senior Press and Public Affairs Officer and Comm Lead, Prosperity and Economic Development, Ndidiamaka Eze, in a statement, indicated recent talks between the UK and Nigeria have helped to remove restrictions to Transnational Education investment in Nigeria worth around £50 million – enabling UK Higher Education institutions build TNE partnerships with their Nigerian counterparts.
Eze added: “We hope this first major investment into Nigeria’s education sector will pave the way for more. The school aims to deliver a strong academic curriculum with day and boarding facilities, and with a focus on intra and extra-curricular activities including sports, arts, and science.
“It will open its doors to primary and secondary school students from Nigeria and beyond starting September 2024.”
Heritage Times HT reports that the UK Minister arrived Nigeria on Sunday to begin a three-day visit to deepen the UK-Nigeria partnership.
The UK Minister’s visit is expected to accelerate ongoing efforts by both countries to boost the UK-Nigeria trade relationship and unlock new investment opportunities.
While in Lagos, the UK Minister for Trade and Business will meet with other key business partners including 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 businesses on both sides.
