King’s College Lagos management transfer sparks controversy

The Federal Executive Council has approved a public-private partnership (PPP) to transfer the management of King’s College, Lagos, to the King’s College Old Boys’ Association (KCOBA). Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, president of KCOBA, clarified that the arrangement is intended to rehabilitate the school’s deteriorating infrastructure and is not a sale or privatization of the institution.

The decision has met significant resistance from parents and staff. Protesters recently blocked KCOBA members from entering the school premises, expressing fears that the concession would turn the prestigious national institution into a commercial asset. The PTA Chairman, Engr. Oluwaleye Peter, has threatened legal action if the government does not address these concerns.

In response to the controversy, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, stated that the federal government retains 100 per cent ownership of the property and has not sold the school to the alumni association.