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Senior Press and Public Affairs Officer, British High Commission in Nigeria, Ndidiamaka Eze
An impressive lineup of top schools has been announced for the 10th-anniversary exhibition of United Kingdom Boarding Schools Week in Lagos and Abuja, taking place from Thursday, September 19 to Tuesday, September 24, 2024.
A statement made available to The PUNCH said the event would be hosted by Mark Brooks Education in association with the UK’s Department for Business and Trade.
In Lagos, the celebrations will kick off with an education networking reception and concert on Friday, September 20, from 7 pm to 9 pm at The Wheatbaker, Ikoyi.
“The evening will feature a chat show with representatives from top UK boarding schools and a mini-concert by renowned gospel artist Chee and her band,” the statement said.
The UK Boarding Schools Week Exhibition will follow on Saturday, September 21, from 1 pm to 5 pm, also at The Wheatbaker Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos.
“The exhibition will showcase a diverse range of schools, including all-girls institutions, sixth-form colleges, sports specialists, and international providers, representing both urban and rural settings.
“The establishments specially invited to attend are those with a proven commitment to Nigeria. They demonstrate a consistent track record in providing excellent education, sector-leading resources, and outstanding pastoral care. Many of these schools have recently or currently had a Nigerian student serving as head boy or head girl,” it said.
According to the statement, the 14 top schools attending include Cardiff Sixth Form College, Cheltenham College, Culford School, Downside School, Kingswood School, Lancing College, LVS Ascot, Mount Kelly, Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate, Roedean School, Brighton, York, TASIS The American School in England, Truro High School for Girls, and Wellington School.
Mark Brooks, who has been working with families in Nigeria for 16 years, explained: “The packed programme includes several new features. Additions to the event include a reception for families with presentations from leading figures in the financial advisory sector, a new format for the exhibition, and webinars to meet the schools leading up to the events.”
Speaking on Nigerian experience, Christine Cunniffe from LVS Ascot said, “I love coming to Nigeria. I’ve been once before and can’t wait to return. Now that I know how wonderful the country is, I’m looking forward to reconnecting with the people I met last time and sharing what our lovely school has to offer.”
A mini-exhibition and reception will also be held at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja on Monday, September 23, from 4 pm to 7 pm.
The statement read, “Throughout the week, many of the principals will be conducting training sessions and workshops at schools in Lagos and Abuja, aiming to establish mutually beneficial partnerships. For more details and to register for any of the events, please visit the website: www.mbexhibitions.com.”