UK boarding schools woo Nigerian students at Abuja, Lagos fairs

Nigerian families will to meet representatives from United Kingdom boarding schools and learn about academics, extracurricular programmes, and student opportunities.

To make this possible, leading British boarding schools will visit Abuja and Lagos in March for UK Boarding Schools Week 2026, providing parents and students with a firsthand look at the pathways and experiences offered by UK education.

The exhibitions are organised by Mark Brooks Education, led by its founder Mark Brooks, who is also a UK Department for Business and Trade Export Champion and has been advising Nigerian families on British education for over 17 years.

According to a press release by his team on Wednesday, Brooks said, “This programme enables parents and students to meet school heads, explore academic pathways and gain first-hand insight into British boarding education.”

Families attending will be able to speak directly with schools offering outstanding academic results, strong pastoral care and vibrant co-curricular programmes, all within welcoming international communities,” Brooks said.

According to Brooks, the events provide a rare opportunity for Nigerian families to understand how a UK boarding education supports holistic development.

“British boarding schools are uniquely placed to develop young people academically, socially and personally.

These events give Nigerian families clearer perspectives on how a UK boarding education can open doors to world-class universities, global networks and lifelong personal development.”

Among the confirmed participating schools are Bromsgrove School, Canford School, Cardiff Sixth Form College, Dean Close School, Downside School, Lancing College, Milton Abbey School, Stamford School, and Wellington School.

School leaders highlighted the long-standing relationship between UK boarding schools and Nigerian families.

Alex Battison, head of Wellington School, Somerset, said, “Wellington has a rich history of having fantastic Nigerian families with us, and we’re incredibly proud of that.

At the heart of what we do is a complete focus on the individual student and helping every child thrive.”

Michael Punt, head of Bromsgrove School, added, “Our school is popular with West African students because of the breadth of opportunities.

“Students know they will be taught extremely well and achieve excellent examination results, but also benefit from sport, music, drama, outdoor pursuits and a whole host of other activities.”

Henrietta Lightwood, global director at Cardiff Sixth Form College, highlighted the strong academic ambition of Nigerian families.

“Nigerian students are highly ambitious, and their parents are too. For many, it’s the academic results and access to top universities that attract them, particularly at Cardiff Sixth Form College.”

Attendance at the exhibitions is free, although advance registration is recommended.

The Abuja exhibition will take place at the Transcorp Hilton on Wednesday, March 4, while the Lagos event will be held at The George Hotel, Ikoyi, on Saturday, March 7, 2026.

 Some schools will also host pre-booked appointments and a smaller follow-up exhibition on Sunday, March 8, in the afternoon.

The public exhibitions form part of a wider week-long programme that includes school visits, student presentations, leadership workshops, and parent receptions across both cities.

It was reported in 2024 that no fewer than 1,500 Nigerian pupils studied at a range of preparatory, senior and sixth form schools across UK.