Wellington College International to Open Lagos School in 2027

By Emmanuel Daniji

After more than 170 years of shaping education in Britain, Wellington College International is expanding its global presence to Nigeria with a new school in Lagos, combining its British educational tradition with Nigerian culture and a global outlook.

The school, located in Alaro City, Lagos State, is scheduled to welcome its first students in September 2027. It is expected to accommodate up to 1,500 students between the ages of three and 18, offering education from the early years through primary and senior school, including A Level programmes.

The institution formally introduced its presence in Lagos with the opening of its Welcome Centre in Victoria Island, providing prospective parents and students with an opportunity to make enquiries and learn more about the school ahead of its full opening.

Speaking at the event, the founding Headmaster of Wellington College International Lagos, Christine Haslett, said the school would combine a British-style curriculum with Nigeria’s cultural heritage while preparing students to navigate an increasingly connected and rapidly changing world.

Haslett explained that the Lagos school would seek to complement the city’s existing educational institutions rather than compete with established schools.

She also highlighted the school’s connection to the wider Wellington family, which currently comprises 13 schools globally and about 13,000 students. According to her, this international network would expose students to a broader global community and create opportunities to build relationships with peers in countries including India, China and Indonesia.

The founding Headmaster identified respect, responsibility, courage, integrity and kindness as five core values that would guide the school’s educational philosophy.

She explained that the values would not simply be taught as an additional part of the curriculum but would be integrated into students’ academic, social and extracurricular experiences.

The school’s Director of Pastoral Care, Adam Shaw, said Wellington College International Lagos would draw lessons from the institution’s long history while embracing modern approaches to education.

He described the establishment of the Lagos school as an opportunity for the Wellington community to engage with a new continent and culture while contributing to the development of young people in Nigeria.

Representing the Lagos State Government at the event, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Abisola Dokunmu-Adegbite, congratulated Wellington College International on its decision to establish a school in Lagos.

She said the development further demonstrated growing confidence in Lagos as a destination for quality, innovative and globally relevant education.

Dokunmu-Adegbite welcomed the school’s plan to combine its rich educational heritage with a forward-looking approach focused on academic excellence, character development, creativity and the holistic development of young people.

With its planned opening in September 2027, Wellington College International Lagos is expected to add another international education option to Lagos’ growing private-school landscape while creating a bridge between British educational traditions, Nigerian identity and global learning.