Expats will certainly choose to send their kids to international private schools in Nigeria. State-sponsored schools are a far cry from satisfying Western standards, and are plagued by staff shortages, lack of books and materials, and a deficiency in learning tools and even facilities.

Foreign nationals may initially be surprised at just how many international school options there are in Nigeria's major urban centres, namely the capital city of Abuja and the commercial capital of Lagos. As expected, rural areas are unable to support the same type of provision; expat parents living far from a large city will need to consider home-schooling, or sending their child to a boarding school.

In Nigeria, European-style schools were started as early as the mid-nineteenth century, by missionaries who used them as instruments for evangelism. The education in these institutions revolved around religion, and today, though the curricula have expanded to include broader, secular topics, there still exists quite a few private schools that have their foundations in the gospel.

The majority of curricula found in the international schools in Nigeria follow British, American or International Baccalaureate standards. The quality of education tends to be high, and students need not worry about falling behind during their time abroad. Furthermore, many of the private schools are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, and offer a healthy choice of extra-curricular activities.

That being said, expats should be fully aware that such a posh education amidst a sea of sub-standard state options certainly comes at a price. Annual tuition can range from $4000 to over $20,000. It's vital that expats moving to Nigeria with kids stipulate subsidies and allowances for education in addition to their contracted salary.

Admission to the best schools can be competitive, and in some cases, preference is given to students of a certain nationality or those who have parents employed by a certain company, organisation or government body. Sometimes, bodies will have reserved spots in particular schools.  Enquire within your company if this is the case before enrolling.

It is often required that children sit for an entrance exam, submit up to two years of their past records, or even go for a personal interview.

The school day in Nigeria runs roughly between 8am and 3pm; timetables are subject to changes in age level and institution.