As what can only be described as a testament to its pedigree, ALTS Education, the Lagos based global education firm, hosted the largest number of foreign boarding schools to its bi-annual fair so far and arguably the largest by any such firm. The fair which held on two consecutive days; the first on Saturday, September 14th at the plush Radisson Blu Anchorage hotel in Lagos’s highbrow Victoria Island and the second on Sunday, September 15th at the Radisson Hotel, Ikeja GRA had a remarkable 36 visiting schools in attendance. “Whereas a number of the schools have become regulars at the ALTS Fair over the years it was also pleasing to host several schools who were attending for the first time” said Mrs Anthonia Foluke Sawyerr, ALTS Education’s Managing Partner.
The potential logistical nightmare of hosting 36 foreign schools, led by 38 delegates from 4 different countries, notwithstanding, the delegates were all praises for their hosts. All but none said they thoroughly enjoyed their 4-day stay in the country and were already looking forward to their next visit to Nigeria. Of course, the visit wasn’t just about that though. The school delegates also revealed that the fair was a major triumph for their respective schools as they succeeded in securing patronage from an impressive number of Nigerian parents, all too eager to give their children the sort of competitive advantage derivable in a global education. Also, the delegates couldn’t help but express how excited they were to discover the quality of their prospective students. Needless to say that the four countries represented by the schools – the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and Switzerland – are all countries feted across the globe for their first rate educational system in general and for their prestigious boarding schools in particular.
Mrs Sawyerr, whose outfit’s motto is “investing in our children and the future of Nigeria through Global Education” was on hand throughout to attend to parents who had enquiries to make or who needed guidance on specific matters such as the school admission process. Speaking from experience, having remarkably visited over 500 foreign schools, all in a quest to ensure she recommends the right school for her clients, she advised parents at the fair to look beyond just picking any school but to pick a school that is the right fit for their child. Recognising how the school one attends lays the foundation for one’s future, and how no two individuals are the same, this, to her, has always been what it’s all about; what is best for each child.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.