KING’S COLLEGE AND THE CONCESSION DRAMA
KCOBA’s initiative is worthy of commendation Following a meeting with representatives of labour unions last Wednesday, the federal government has suspended the planned concession of King’s College, Lagos, to the
Following a meeting with labor union representatives last Wednesday, the federal government has decided to delay the planned concession of King's College, Lagos, to the institution's Old Boys' Association by two weeks. This decision was prompted by protests from workers and parents who have converted the school premises into a site of confrontation, preventing the Old Boys' Association from entering.
The workers and parents were opposing the proposed 50-year concession, arguing that it would effectively privatize the 117-year-old school and restrict access to only privileged children.
The President of the King's College Old Boys' Association (KCOBA), Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, defended the concession, stating that the school remains the federal government's property, and the association's role would be to manage and restore the school's quality and excellence. The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, agreed that the decision was driven by severe infrastructure decay and KCOBA's willingness to invest heavily in the institution.
He emphasized that the agreement aimed to mobilize adequate resources for the school without transferring its ownership from the government.
Founded in 1909, King's College has been a symbol of academic excellence, producing generations of leaders in Nigeria, including prime ministers and members of the Royal families. However, over the years, the school has fallen into disrepair due to decades of infrastructure decay and inadequate resources. The classrooms, libraries, laboratories, and other facilities are in poor condition, and the quality of staff has been questioned.
The government has struggled to provide the necessary funding and support, with alumni associations from other high-profile schools in Oyo and Abia States adopting similar models to revitalize their institutions.
The KCOBA's proposal to restore King's College as a model for other high schools is seen as a noble initiative, and the government is urged to support their efforts, rather than shutting them out.
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