King’s College Concession: Parents Mobilise for Mass Protest as N100bn Takeover Plan Sparks Outrage

King’s College Concession: Parents Mobilise for Mass Protest as N100bn Takeover Plan Sparks Outrage

The controversy over the Federal Government’s decision to concession King’s College, Lagos, to the King’s College Old Boys’ Association (KCOBA) has intensified, with parents and other stakeholders mobilising for a mass protest against the arrangement.

Chairman of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), Mr Peter Oluwaseye, confirmed the planned protest, stating that widespread opposition from parents, civil servants, and the host community had made the demonstration necessary. He emphasised that parents strongly object to the move, insisting that King’s College remains a public institution that should not be taken over by its former students. “Parents are not in support of the move. Senior civil servants are also saying no to it. The community is also not in support. Old boys should not see the college as their property. They attended the school just like the current students are doing. King’s College is a public property,” he said. The PTA chairman argued that KCOBA should support the institution through voluntary contributions rather than seek control of its administration. “The old students should give to the college willingly, not wanting to take it over. They won’t succeed. There is no private entity that can assemble the type of teachers we have in the college. We say no to concession, whatever guise it is being planned,” he stated.

The controversy follows an announcement in July 2026 by KCOBA President, Alhaji Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, that the Federal Government had approved the concession of the 116-year-old institution to the old boys’ association. Following the announcement, KCOBA launched a N100 billion endowment fund aimed at repositioning the college and financing infrastructure renewal, teacher development, digital technology, scholarships, research, innovation, and students’ welfare. Among the early contributors were First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, who donated N10 million, while Ibrahim-Imam pledged N1 billion. Former Board of Trustees Chairman, Chief Philip Asiodu, and the association’s new Board Chairman, Alhaji Femi Okunnu, also donated N100 million each. The endowment fund will be chaired by the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, with economist Atedo Peterside serving as Vice Chairman.

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Ibrahim-Imam described the concession as a defining moment in the history of King’s College, potentially serving as a blueprint for the renewal of public education in Nigeria. He allayed fears that the government had sold the college, stressing it was “not a privatisation agreement” but rather “the establishment of a new governance framework through which KCOBA will partner with government to restore, strengthen, modernise, and sustain one of Nigeria’s greatest educational institutions.” He further assured that the school’s federal character would remain intact, with students continuing to be admitted from all parts of the country regardless of ethnic, religious, or economic background. Giving an insight into how the journey towards the concession approval began, Ibrahim-Imam stated: “This historic milestone did not happen overnight. It is the culmination of years of careful planning, sustained advocacy, constructive engagement, and unwavering commitment by generations of Kingsmen who refused to accept that decline should define the future of their alma mater.”

However, the Parents-Teachers Association has strongly opposed the arrangement, expressing concern that the concession could result in increased school fees and other charges beyond the reach of many parents, forcing children from low-income families out of the institution and widening inequality in access to quality education. The PTA also faulted what it described as “secrecy surrounding the proposal,” saying critical stakeholders were not adequately consulted before the concession plan emerged. The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has similarly rejected the concession, warning that handing over King’s College and other Federal Government Colleges to private entities would make them unaffordable for millions of Nigerian students and threaten the jobs of teachers and other workers. The union recalled that similar attempts to privatise unity schools in 2005 were resisted through prolonged negotiations, industrial action, and legal battles.

As the controversy continues, parents have affirmed their commitment to protecting the integrity and accessibility of King’s College. They have called on the Federal Government to immediately suspend the proposed concession and initiate genuine dialogue with all stakeholders before taking any decision.

King’s College Concession: Parents Mobilise for Mass Protest as N100bn Takeover Plan Sparks Outrage