Government Delays King’s College Concession Amid Protests

The federal government has suspended the planned concession of King’s College, Lagos, to the King’s College Old Boys’ Association (KCOBA) for two weeks after protests from workers and parents. These groups opposed the proposed 50-year concession, arguing it would privatize the 117-year-old school, limiting access to privileged children.

KCOBA President Kashim Ibrahim-Imam defended the concession, stating that the school would remain government property, with the association tasked only with management and restoration efforts. Minister of Education Tunji Alausa supported this view, citing severe infrastructure decay at the school and KCOBA’s commitment to invest in its improvement.

Founded in 1909, King’s College has a legacy of academic excellence but has suffered from neglect, leading to deteriorating facilities and quality of education. The situation has prompted calls for intervention from KCOBA, as federal funding has proven insufficient to address the school’s needs.