Nova Pioneer Students Begin Education at Tatu City

The incoming Form 1 class is officially full with a waitlist at the newly built campus of Nova Pioneer, a leading pan-African school network whose Nairobi flagship campus is located in Tatu City, the mixed-use, mixed-income satellite city development outside Nairobi.

“We are delighted to now host our young innovators and leaders at a purpose-built campus, designed specifically to deliver our innovative approach to 8-4-4 education,” said Chris Khaemba, Director, Nova Pioneer. “We would like to thank Tatu City for providing all the infrastructure that has made this possible.”

After breaking ground at the site in October 2016, construction and infrastructure was provided in record time. Tatu City delivered the infrastructure critical for the successful operation
of the school including paved roads, connection to sewer line, water connection, power and the installation of a security fence on the outer boundary.

“To have Nova Pioneer open their flagship campus at Tatu City is testament to the hard work from all involved,” said Nick Langford, Country Head for Rendeavour, Tatu City’s owner and developer. “Education is a vital component of our mixed-use offering and it is notable that the school was oversubscribed with a considerable waitlist before opening. This demonstrates Tatu City is clearly becoming a destination within greater Nairobi.”

Nova Pioneer, which is co-founded by former Alliance Principal Chris Khaemba, is situated on 20 acres of land adjacent to Kijani Ridge, the first residential development at Tatu City.

The purpose-built campus has been designed specifically to facilitate Nova’s innovative approach to education and currently includes state of the art dormitories, classrooms, an administration building, and a dual kitchen and dining building. Upon completion in 2019, the campus will be home to four separate campuses: a secondary boarding boys school, a secondary boarding girls school, a primary day school, and a preprimary.

About Nova Pioneer (www.novapioneer.com/)

Nova Pioneer is a rapidly growing education company developing and operating world class, affordable secondary, primary, secondary, and pre-primary schools across the African continent. Nova Pioner is currently operational in both Kenya and South Africa, and will have eight schools by 2018. The network’s unique learning approach prepares students to be globally competitive innovators and leaders in the 21st century. Their leadership team is comprised of director Chris Khaemba, a career educator, who is widely known in Kenya and beyond for his exemplary work at Alliance High School and African Leadership Academy in South Africa. CEO Chinezi Chijioke, is a graduate of Harvard and Stanford, previously led McKinsey & Company’s Education practice in Africa. Oliver Sabot, East Africa MD, founded two educational organizations in Kenya and Rwanda, and formerly served as a Vice President for the Clinton Foundation. Damany Gibbs, the group’s COO and a graduate of Harvard and Oxford, was previously a founding team member of Bain & Company’s Africa practice, having started his career with investment bank Morgan Stanley.  Dai Ellis, the group’s Chief Academic Officer, is a graduate of Yale and recently served as CEO of Excel Academy Charter Schools in the U.S.A.

About Tatu City (www.tatucity.com)

Tatu City is a 2,500-acre, mixed-use and mixed-income development with residential, commercial, industrial, tourism, social and recreation amenities for more than 100,000 residents and 30,000 day visitors. Underlying Tatu City’s design is a visionary concept aiming to shift urban development in Kenya from the familiar single node model to a decentralized urban environment. By doing so, Tatu will significantly de-congest the City of Nairobi by offering a unique live, work and play environment.