Nigerian private school representatives visit Wisdom School to exchange knowledge and expertise

Representatives of private schools in Nigeria visited Wisdom School in Musanze District, Northern Province, on Friday, 14 August 2026, as part of efforts to exchange knowledge and expertise in advancing the quality of education and explore opportunities for stronger collaboration between private schools in Rwanda and Nigeria.

The visit was aimed at enabling the Nigerian delegation to learn from Rwanda’s education system, particularly in the areas of values-based education, cultural integration, quality education and preparing students for higher education.

The delegation comprised approximately 35 people, including school owners and other representatives of private schools in Nigeria. They were in Rwanda for a six-day leadership retreat designed to strengthen the capacity of school leaders and provide an opportunity to study Rwanda’s education system and identify practices that could be adapted to strengthen private education in Nigeria.

Dr. Harrison Okeke, Lead Consultant at OPSAN, an association representing private schools in Nigeria, who led the delegation, said their visit was intended to explore Rwanda’s education model and identify practices that could contribute to transforming the private education sector in Nigeria.

“We are in Rwanda for a six-day leadership retreat. We are taking time to explore school systems in Rwanda and look at what we can model from them to transform the education system that we have, especially within the private school sector,” he said.

Dr. Okeke said one of the delegation’s major takeaways from Wisdom School was not merely its infrastructure and physical facilities, but the values and culture embedded in the institution’s educational approach.

“What we are taking back home is the value and the importance of prioritising values and culture. Those are the fabrics of what you do in this institution. It is not only about the structures and buildings that we are seeing; the value system is also top-notch,” he said.

Ellie Nduwayesu, the Head of Wisdom School and Vice President of the Rwanda United Private Schools Association (RUPSA), said the Nigerian delegation requested to visit Wisdom School because of the school’s initiatives aimed at enhancing the quality of education and preparing students for university studies.

“These people from Nigeria are representatives of private schools. They requested, through the private schools in Rwanda that are members of RUPSA, which I serve as Vice President, to visit Wisdom because of the projects we have that we can potentially collaborate on. They also came to learn from what we are doing,” Nduwayesu said.

He said the delegation toured different facilities and programmes at Wisdom School and held discussions with the school’s leadership. He added that the visitors were impressed by Rwanda’s standards, particularly in terms of cleanliness, security and the general wellbeing of its people.

“They came to visit us, and after the discussions, touring the facilities and learning about our programmes, they committed to entering into an agreement with RUPSA. This is not intended to be a short-term agreement, because they have the capacity and are also prepared to work with our private schools,” he said.

According to Nduwayesu, the proposed partnership could extend to private schools across Rwanda, particularly in helping students access opportunities for higher education in different countries.

“They have committed to signing an agreement focused particularly on preparing students to pursue university education in countries on other continents with which we have partnerships, including the United States, the Philippines, Canada, China, India and elsewhere,” he said.

Nduwayesu said Wisdom School has also developed a number of initiatives aimed at improving educational quality and preparing students for higher education, including the Pathways programme.

The programme is designed for students who have completed Senior Six and provides an opportunity for them to begin their university studies in Rwanda before completing their final year at a partner university abroad.

“At Wisdom School, we have several initiatives aimed at improving the quality of education we provide to our students and preparing them for university through what is known as the Pathways programme. Students who have completed Senior Six can undertake their first two years of university education in Rwanda and then complete their final year at a university abroad,” he explained.

Nduwayesu said the Nigerian delegation’s decision to visit Wisdom School demonstrates the recognition that the institution’s work is receiving both nationally and internationally, while also creating opportunities for new partnerships.

“The fact that they chose us means there are things we are doing at Wisdom School that are appreciated by both Rwandans and foreigners. They told us that there are many things they have learned from us,” he said.

He further explained that cooperation between RUPSA and private schools in Nigeria could facilitate student mobility, knowledge exchange and academic opportunities for students from both countries.

“This can help Wisdom School achieve its Pathways objectives through student mobility, including students coming from Nigeria to Rwanda and students from Rwanda going elsewhere. Wisdom School can serve as a pathway through which they can access these opportunities,” he said.

Nduwayesu added that such cooperation represents an opportunity to strengthen educational ties between African countries and contribute to the development of the continent through shared knowledge and expertise.

“This is also an important foundation for strengthening the idea that Africa is one and that we should work together to advance its development,” he said.

Dr. Harrison Okeke said that following their visit to Wisdom School, the delegation had other engagements with various stakeholders in Rwanda as part of its six-day leadership retreat.

He also said the visit would conclude on Sunday, 16 August 2026, with a tour of different parts of Rwanda led by tour guides, giving members of the delegation an opportunity to experience the country and gain a deeper understanding of Rwanda’s tourism offering.

The visit by Nigerian private school representatives has opened discussions on educational cooperation, knowledge and expertise exchange, student mobility and the creation of new opportunities to prepare learners for international higher education and the global labour market.