Parents and students of King’s College, Lagos, have protested against the Federal Government’s reported plan to concession the 116-year-old school to its old students’ association, insisting that the institution should remain under public ownership and management.
The protesters staged a peaceful demonstration in Lagos on Thursday, marching from the school premises through parts of Lagos Island with placards rejecting the proposed concession.
They also threatened legal action and said they could oppose the reopening of the school for the 2026/2027 academic session, scheduled for September 13, if the Federal Government fails to provide clarification on the arrangement.
The demonstration followed concerns within the school community over reports that the Federal Government had approved a 35-year concession of the institution to the King’s College Old Boys Association (KCOBA).
Addressing journalists during the protest, representatives of the Parents-Teachers Association said parents had previously communicated their objections to the Federal Ministry of Education and the Presidency but had yet to receive a satisfactory response.
The parents questioned the basis for transferring the management of a federal institution of King’s College’s stature to an alumni organisation.
They argued that former students should continue to support the school through philanthropy and development initiatives rather than seek control of its administration.
The protesters also questioned whether an alumni association would have the capacity to manage the institution under the proposed long-term concession.
They maintained that King’s College was established as a federal institution and should continue to serve the public interest.
Placards displayed during the demonstration carried messages rejecting concession and privatisation, with protesters calling on the Federal Government to retain the school as a public institution.
The parents said they were prepared to challenge the concession in court if the government proceeded with the arrangement.
They also said they would consider withholding their children from resuming until the Ministry of Education responds to their concerns.
The controversy follows a July announcement by the President of KCOBA, Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, that the Federal Government had conceded King’s College to the association.
The old boys’ body has proposed a major investment programme for the institution, including a reported N100 billion endowment fund.
The fund is expected to support areas such as infrastructure, teacher development, digital technology, scholarships, research, innovation and student welfare.
However, The proposed concession has attracted opposition beyond the King’s College community, with the Nigeria Labour Congress also expressing concerns about plans to concession federal unity colleges to private interests.
For the protesting parents and students, the immediate demand is for the Federal Government to clarify the status, terms and implications of the proposed arrangement before the school resumes for the new academic session.
