The Association of International School Educators of Nigeria (AISEN) started because schools running the international examinations wanted to develop a closer relationship with the British Council to improve the organisation of the studies.

As a result, a group of five Principals met in 2004 at Greensprings-Anthony campus after which the group agreed to meet twice each term. At that time membership was limited to schools doing the IGCSE. A common approach to exams and tackling the challenges of delivering high-quality examinations through the British Council was discussed. A series of meetings were arranged with the British Council, and as a result, their service improved significantly.

The group considered how to improve the skills of staff involved in delivering IGCSE and held the first IGCSE training programme at Grange School in August of 2005. Initially, the meetings were quite informal and run by the Principal of the hosting school, but in the second year of the meetings, this arrangement was changed to ensure continuity. John Todd was elected as Chairman; Mrs Adesanya was voted as Secretary, and William Pope was voted as Treasurer. It was decided to invite specific schools so that membership was kept to schools who shared the same ethos. Hosting of the meetings was rotated among member schools on a voluntary basis.

The group had informally called themselves the Nigeria International Schools Association, and during the second year, the process of registering the association with the Corporate Affairs Commission began.

The association worked to identify an appropriate name and the name – Association of International School Educators of Nigeria (AISEN) was registered in November 2009.

Concurrently, another organisation was established by School Proprietors who met regularly at Oxbridge College and who are registered as APEN (Association of Private Educators in Nigeria). The two associations have a similar ethos and have always had a cordial working relationship. The President of AISEN is an honorary member of the APEN Board of Trustees.

Since 2009, AISEN has developed a wide range of programmes for students and significantly expanded its staff development programme. Clear guidelines and rules for all student activities were introduced, which proved to be a wonderful landmark in the history of international schools in Nigeria. AISEN has become a highly regarded professional body in Nigeria offering high quality international training for international examinations (through the British Council), alongside some of the most well attended teacher training events in Nigeria.

These professional standards ensure that AISEN is now invited to take a lead role in education discussions affecting international education in Nigeria and is recognised as Nigeria’s premier international schools’ association.