Wellington College International has officially launched its first African school at Alaro City, marking a significant expansion of British education into the continent.
Scheduled to open in September 2027, Wellington College International Lagos will be a co-educational boarding and day school for up to 1,500 students aged three to 18. The school will deliver the English National Curriculum from Key Stage 1 through to A-Levels.
Purpose-Built Campus for Modern Learning
The college is being developed by Rendeavour and designed by MICA Architects. The purpose-built campus will support excellence in academics, sport, music, the arts and pastoral care, while also focusing on innovation in areas such as artificial intelligence and entrepreneurship. Speaking at the official launch ceremony in Lagos, the Managing Director of Wellington College International, Paresh Thakrar, highlighted the significance of the partnership.
“Wellington College International Lagos sets a new benchmark for education on the continent, drawing on the strength of our global family of schools to deliver a transformative 21st-century education that equips young people to thrive and to help serve and shape a better world,” Thakrar said.
Focus on Long-Term Educational Development
The Founder and CEO of Rendeavour, Stephen Jennings, said the project reflects a commitment to developing human potential through education.
“Africa’s greatest opportunity lies in the potential of its people, and that education is the foundation on which long-term development is built. Through Rendeavour’s partnership with Wellington College International Lagos, Wellington is not just building infrastructure, but unlocking human potential.”
Stephen Jennings
State-of-the-Art Facilities Planned
The 12.5-hectare campus will include a wide range of premium facilities designed to support student development across multiple disciplines.
Planned facilities include:
- A 50-metre Olympic-size swimming pool
- A performing arts theatre
- A fully equipped medical centre
- Integrated STEM laboratories
- An indoor sports complex
- Multi-purpose outdoor sports courts
- A 400-metre track and field pitch
- A standard-size rugby pitch
Joining Wellington’s Global Network
Wellington College International Lagos will become the first Wellington College school in Africa and the eleventh globally. It will join a network of schools across the UK, China, Thailand, Indonesia and India.
Collectively, Wellington schools educate more than 10,000 students worldwide and are recognised for strong academic outcomes and placements at leading universities, including Oxford, Cambridge and Ivy League institutions.
The launch marks the beginning of what organisers describe as a long-term educational legacy for Nigeria, aimed at supporting families, strengthening communities and preparing future generations for leadership in a rapidly changing world.
