A globally recognised online school for families in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and across Nigeria — Cambridge IGCSE, A-Level, IB Diploma, Pearson Edexcel, American curriculum, and WAEC preparation. Live classes in WAT timezone. From from USD 400/month, with full Naira payment support.
Nigerian families face a worsening squeeze: premium Lagos and Abuja international schools now charge ₦18 million to ₦35 million+ per year following the 2024-2026 fee escalations, with many premium schools also charging application fees of ₦1-2 million just to apply. Mid-tier international schools sit at ₦8-15 million, and the Naira has lost over 60% of its USD value since 2022, pushing imported school materials and exam fees higher every term. Smartious gives Nigerian families a serious alternative — a globally recognised international online school with IGCSE, A-Level, IB and American pathways alongside WAEC preparation, taught live in WAT, at USD prices that have stayed stable while local school fees keep climbing.
All curricula are taught live by degree-qualified subject specialists, with full past paper access, mock exam programmes and university application support.
Homeschooling and online schooling are permitted in Nigeria. The Federal Ministry of Education recognises home-based and online education, and there is no requirement for Nigerian families using an accredited international provider to register separately with state education boards. Families enrolling with Smartious receive formal enrolment certificates, termly progress reports, and predicted grades — documentation that is accepted by Nigerian universities through the JAMB direct entry pathway, and by universities worldwide. For students pursuing the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE/WAEC), Smartious delivers a parallel preparation track covering the WAEC syllabus with Nigerian-experienced subject specialists; students register directly with WAEC as private candidates for the May/June or November/December series.
Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A-Level and Pearson Edexcel examinations are sat at British Council centres in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, with additional Cambridge-authorised centres at selected international schools accepting private candidates. IB Diploma examinations are administered at authorised IB World Schools in Lagos and Abuja. WAEC examinations (SSCE/GCE) are sat at WAEC-designated centres across all 36 Nigerian states and the FCT — Smartious handles WAEC private candidate registration, provides the WAEC syllabus materials and past papers, and runs full mock examination programmes before each WAEC series.
Yes. The Federal Ministry of Education recognises homeschooling and online learning. Nigerian families using an accredited international provider like Smartious do not need to register separately with state education boards. We issue formal enrolment certificates, termly progress reports and predicted grades that are accepted by Nigerian and international universities.
Both — and this is one of the reasons Nigerian families choose us. We run a dedicated WAEC preparation track covering the full WAEC SSCE syllabus, taught by Nigerian-experienced subject specialists in Mathematics, English Language, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Economics, Government, Literature, Geography, Christian Religious Studies, Islamic Religious Studies and other WAEC subjects. Students register directly with WAEC as private candidates for either the May/June or November/December series. Many of our Nigerian students do both: WAEC for Nigerian university entry, plus IGCSE or A-Level for international university applications. We help families decide which combination fits their goals.
WAEC examinations are sat at WAEC-designated centres in all 36 states and the FCT. Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A-Level and Pearson Edexcel examinations are sat at British Council centres in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, plus selected international school exam centres accepting private candidates. IB Diploma examinations are sat at authorised IB World Schools in Lagos and Abuja. Smartious handles all registration and provides comprehensive mock examination programmes before each series.
Premium Lagos schools (AISL, BIS Lagos, Charterhouse Lagos, Rugby School Nigeria) now charge ₦18-35 million per year per child, with application fees of ₦1-2 million on top. Mid-tier international schools charge ₦8-15 million per year. Smartious annual fees for a full programme run roughly USD 3,000-5,000 — at current rates that is approximately ₦4-7 million per year. Same Cambridge, Edexcel, IB and American exam boards, taught live, no application fees, no waitlists.
Because we operate to international standards — our students sit the same Cambridge, Edexcel, IB and American exams as students in London, Dubai, Toronto and Nairobi. USD pricing also protects Nigerian families from school fee inflation: the Naira has lost more than 60% of its USD value since 2022, and many Nigerian schools have raised Naira-denominated fees by 50-100% in the same period. Smartious USD pricing has stayed stable. We accept Naira payments via bank transfer, Paystack, or card at the prevailing exchange rate — you pay in Naira, the price stays predictable in USD terms.
Yes. Smartious runs live group classes across three time-zone bands — UK & Africa, Americas, and Asia-Pacific — with a stable small team of subject specialists in each band. Nigerian students join the UK & Africa band (WAT is GMT+1, just two hours behind EAT), with live sessions timetabled during Nigerian school hours. Every class is recorded for unlimited rewatch. Students in Lagos, Abuja and across Nigeria join the same live cohorts as classmates in Doha, Nairobi and London.
Yes. Students completing IGCSE and A-Level through Smartious are eligible to apply to Nigerian universities through JAMB Direct Entry. We provide the transcripts, predicted grades, recommendation letters and counselling support needed for UNILAG (University of Lagos), Covenant University, Babcock, Bowen, Lead City, Pan-Atlantic, Afe Babalola University, ABU Zaria, OAU Ife and others. Students with WAEC results apply through standard JAMB UTME. Many of our Nigerian families end up applying to both Nigerian and international universities to keep options open.
Cambridge A-Level and IB Diploma graduates are competitive for: PTDF scholarships (Nigerian government), Commonwealth Scholarships (UK), Chevening (UK), Fulbright (US), DAAD (Germany), and merit scholarships at most US universities. Our UCAS and Common App counselling team helps Year 12-13 students apply for these alongside their university applications. Many international universities also offer their own scholarships specifically for African students with strong A-Level or IB results.
Yes. We accept enrolments year-round with no waitlist. Mid-term transfers are routine — your child continues with the same curriculum and exam board without losing progress, whether they are currently at a Nigerian secondary school, a Lagos international school, or moving back from abroad. Most students begin within one week of admissions assessment.
Yes. Smartious students join live virtual classes daily with classmates across Nigeria and from Kenya, Ghana, the UK, UAE, Canada and beyond. Our Wednesday enrichment programme runs online clubs in coding, debate, Model UN, chess, journalism, AI and leadership. Students build real friendships across the African diaspora — many describe their Smartious classmates as their closest peers, regardless of which Nigerian city they live in.
You can transfer back at any time. Smartious issues full transcripts, termly progress reports and predicted grades that are recognised by Nigerian secondary schools (including the major Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt international schools) and by schools internationally. Most schools place returning students based on those records combined with their own placement assessment.
All Smartious teachers hold degrees in the subjects they teach. Our WAEC track is taught by Nigerian-trained subject specialists with experience preparing students for WASSCE. Our international curriculum teachers hold degrees from Nigerian, Kenyan, UK and international universities, with experience in Cambridge IGCSE, A-Level, IB and American curricula. We screen every candidate through a written subject assessment, a teaching demonstration and a safeguarding check before any contact with students.
From Lagos to Abuja to the diaspora, more Nigerian families are reaching the same conclusion: the premium international school model has become unsustainable. Here is what we hear most often from the parents who enrol with us.
Top Lagos and Abuja international schools now charge ₦18-35 million per year per child, plus ₦1-2 million application fees just to apply. For a family with two children, that is ₦40-70 million per year in school fees alone. Many middle-class and upper-middle-class Nigerian families who could afford these schools five years ago can no longer justify them.
The Naira has lost more than 60% of its USD value since 2022. Schools paying teachers in USD, importing books, and registering students with foreign exam boards have raised Naira fees by 50-100% in the same period. Smartious USD pricing has stayed stable, which means Nigerian families know what they will pay in real terms.
Many premium Lagos international schools have multi-year waitlists for popular year groups. Families relocating to Lagos mid-year, or seeking to switch schools, often find no real choice at the top schools. Smartious admits students year-round with no waiting list.
A growing number of Nigerian families have postings, businesses, or extended family in the UK, USA, Canada and the Gulf. Switching schools every time disrupts learning. With Smartious, the school travels with the family — same teachers, same curriculum, same exam board across every move.
Morning and afternoon school traffic on the Lekki-Epe Expressway, Third Mainland Bridge, and along Victoria Island can add 2-3 hours to a child's school day. Online schooling recovers all of it — and lets students start their day rested rather than exhausted.
Most Nigerian families want their child to keep both options open: WAEC for Nigerian university entry, IGCSE or A-Level for international universities. Almost no traditional Nigerian school delivers both well — they specialise in one curriculum. Smartious delivers both in parallel, so your child finishes with the best options for whichever direction they choose.
Every Wednesday afternoon, Smartious students join our online enrichment programme — coding, robotics, debate, Model UN, chess, journalism, AI and leadership. Students in Lagos and Abuja connect with classmates in Nairobi, London, Dubai and Toronto, building global friendships alongside academic progress.
Explore Wednesday ActivitiesHow we compare to a typical premium Lagos international school in 2026 — not because they are bad, but because they are built for a different problem than the one many Nigerian families now face.
Smartious students compete successfully for places at the best universities in Nigeria and worldwide. Where they end up depends on which curriculum track they choose and what their family wants for them.
Cambridge IGCSE and A-Level graduates can enter Nigerian universities through JAMB Direct Entry, often with advanced standing. WAEC graduates apply through JAMB UTME in the standard way. Students completing both WAEC and A-Level (a common Smartious combination) have maximum flexibility for Nigerian, UK, US, Canadian and Australian applications.
Smartious is priced in USD because we operate to international standards — our students sit the same Cambridge, Edexcel, IB, American and WAEC examinations as students in Nairobi, London, Dubai and Toronto. USD pricing also protects Nigerian families from school-fee inflation: the Naira has lost more than 60% of its USD value since 2022, but Smartious USD prices have stayed stable. We accept Naira payments via bank transfer, Paystack, or card at the prevailing exchange rate — your USD price stays predictable, you pay in Naira.
Termly billing saves 5%. Annual billing saves 12%. One-time registration fee USD 38 applies on enrolment. 10% sibling discount on every additional child. Naira payments accepted via Paystack, bank transfer or card at prevailing exchange rate. USD bank transfer and international wire also accepted for families abroad.
Speak with our admissions team. We'll guide you through the right curriculum, exam pathway and enrolment process for your family.