Parents and students of King’s College, Lagos have rejected the Federal Government’s proposed concession of the 117 year old institution to the King’s College Old Boys Association.
They are threatening legal action and a possible boycott of the next academic session.
The stakeholders staged a peaceful protest on Thursday across major roads on Lagos Island, demanding that the Federal Government retain ownership and control of the school.
The protesters started the march from the school gate and moved through General Hospital, Tafawa Balewa Square, the National Museum, Yoruba Tennis Club and other parts of Lagos Island.
They carried placards with inscriptions including, “King’s College is not for sale. Beware!!!” and “Federal Government, we say no to concession”.
Speaking during the protest, the Chairman of the school’s Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), Peter Oluwaleye, said parents had repeatedly communicated their opposition to the proposed concession to the Ministry of Education and the Presidency but had yet to receive a response.
He said the protest was organised to stop the proposed transfer of control of the institution to the old boys’ association.
He insisted that King’s College should remain under the control of the Federal Government.
Oluwaleye said the PTA had formally expressed its position at the school’s Annual General Meeting and through letters to the government.
He also criticised claims allegedly made by members of the Old Boys’ Association that they now owned King’s College.
His words, “The Old Boys Association keep going around telling the whole world that they now own King’s College, Lagos. But it is not true. It is barbaric, satanic for old students to lay claim to the school that produced them.”
According to him, the Old Boys should focus on supporting the institution through voluntary contributions rather than seeking to take over its management.
His words, “We expected them to give back to the school voluntarily and generously. But they are saying they want to take over the school.”
The PTA chairman also questioned the capacity of the Old Boys’ Association to manage an institution of King’s College’s size and reputation under the proposed 35 year concession.
His words, “We see these Old Boys Association members as businessmen that cannot run an educational institution of this magnitude. They are planning to run the school for an initial 35 years. But we, the parents, are saying no.”
Oluwaleye said the parents had resolved to seek legal redress if the Federal Government proceeded with the proposed concession.
His words, “We have resolved that after this protest, we are going to court. We will tell the federal government that it is its responsibility to educate the citizens.”
He further disclosed that the parents would oppose the resumption of students for the new academic session, scheduled for September 13, until the Ministry of Education formally responds to their concerns.
His words, “We will ensure that there is no resumption in the school until we hear directly from the Ministry of Education. That is our resolution.”
Also speaking, an ex-officio member of the school’s PTA, Aje Olatunji, said the protest was organised because stakeholders are opposed to transferring the school to the private sector.
Olatunji said the demonstration was peaceful and recorded no violence or disorder.
He said the protesters used placards to draw public attention to their opposition to the proposed concession, adding that no official of the school management addressed the protesters.
He explained that the participation of civil servants and labour representatives was necessary because King’s College remains a government institution.
The controversy follows an earlier announcement by the King’s College Old Boys’ Association that the Federal Government had approved a new governance framework for the institution.
The association described the development as the beginning of a “King’s College Renaissance.”
The President of the association, Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, had maintained that the arrangement was neither a sale nor privatisation of the school, but a partnership with the Federal Government aimed at restoring, modernising and sustaining the institution.
However, the PTA has rejected the proposed arrangement, arguing that King’s College was established to provide affordable, accessible and quality education to Nigerian children regardless of their social or economic background.
The parents expressed concern that the concession could lead to increased school fees and other charges, potentially placing the institution beyond the reach of children from low income families.
While stating that it was not opposed to private investment in education, the PTA said it rejected any concession arrangement that could undermine accessibility, affordability, equity and the public interest.
It also criticised what it described as the secrecy surrounding the proposal, arguing that critical stakeholders, including parents, teachers and the host community, were not adequately consulted.
The PTA maintained that decisions affecting the welfare and education of students should be taken only after broad consultation and meaningful participation by stakeholders.
It reaffirmed its willingness to support genuine reforms aimed at improving educational standards, while insisting that such reforms must preserve the public identity of King’s College and protect students’ access to quality education.
Digital Operations Manager at The Students Forum Nigeria.
