FG courts UK investors to expand international schools in Nigeria
The Federal Government has courted investors from the United Kingdom to establish and expand international schools in Nigeria, as part of efforts to transform the education sector and broaden access to world-class learning.
This was contained in a statement on Tuesday by the Federal Ministry of Education following a courtesy visit by a high-level Schools and Skills delegation from the UK Department for Business and Trade to the ministry in Abuja.
Speaking during the engagement, the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, said the government is prioritising the establishment of reputable international schools in Nigeria to expand access to globally competitive education and reduce the need for overseas study.
He noted that recent economic reforms, particularly the removal of foreign exchange subsidies, have made foreign education less accessible, stressing the need to strengthen in-country delivery of quality education through global partnerships.
Dr Alausa stated that Nigeria’s population of over 220 million presents strong demand for education, and urged reputable international schools, especially from the United Kingdom, to establish campuses in cities such as Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kano and Kaduna.
He assured that government is committed to creating an enabling environment for investment through policy reforms, streamlined administrative processes and improved security measures to sustain investor confidence.
The minister disclosed that over 2.5 million additional children have been enrolled in schools in the past 30 months, while Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) remains central to youth empowerment and job creation, with free technical education and stipends for trainees.
In her remarks, the Minister of State for Education, Prof Suwaiba Said Ahmad, and UK officials led by Sarah Chidgey, Head of International Education, reaffirmed commitment to strengthening cooperation in school partnerships, teacher development and skills training, describing Nigeria as a key partner under the UK’s education strategy.
