PTA rejects FG’s plan to concession King’s College Lagos, warns of higher fees and loss of public access
The Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) of King’s College Lagos has unanimously rejected the Federal Government’s approval to concession the 116-year-old institution to the King’s College Old Boys Association (KCOBA), warning that the move could undermine affordable public education and set a dangerous precedent for Unity Schools across Nigeria.
The resolution was reached on Saturday during the college’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), where parents and teachers appealed to President Bola Tinubu to reconsider the decision.
King’s College Lagos, established on September 20, 1909, by an Act of the British Parliament, is one of Nigeria’s foremost all-boys Unity Colleges with campuses on Lagos Island and Victoria Island.
The Federal Government recently approved the concession of the institution to KCOBA, describing it as the beginning of a new era for one of Nigeria’s oldest and most prestigious secondary schools.
However, the PTA strongly opposed the plan, insisting that the school should remain a publicly managed institution.
Speaking at the meeting, a parent, Mrs. Nkiru Ikechukwu, urged the old boys to channel their support toward funding projects, monitoring finances and improving standards instead of taking over the management of the school.
“If this is allowed to happen, it could eventually extend to other Unity Colleges and even federal tertiary institutions across the country,” she said.
She warned that concessioning would likely lead to increased school fees, placing additional financial burdens on parents and denying children from low-income families access to quality education.
“King’s College provides equal opportunities for students regardless of their social background or religion. It promotes national unity by bringing together children from different parts of the country. We are saying a vehement no to this move,” she added.
Another speaker, Mrs. Loveth Nimkur-Ikilama, a teacher and former student of a Unity College, described the proposal as contrary to the vision of the institution’s founding fathers.
She expressed fears that concessioning could eventually lead to full privatisation, resulting in higher school fees, uncertainty for teachers and reduced access for brilliant but indigent students.
“I enjoyed the benefits of Unity College, just like many of those pushing for this arrangement. We should preserve that legacy, not commercialise it,” she said.
Also speaking, Mrs. Adewunmi Adeola, a parent, called on stakeholders to resist the proposed concession, stressing that King’s College was founded on the principles of excellence and national integration.
While acknowledging challenges such as deteriorating infrastructure and recurring bedbug infestations, she argued that the solution was increased government funding, stronger supervision and improved management—not privatisation.
“This is part of our national identity. Parents and alumni are willing to support the school without surrendering it to private management,” she said.
Another parent, Mr. Ibrahim Yunusa, described King’s College as a beacon of hope for average and less-privileged Nigerians.
According to him, the institution has consistently produced accomplished Nigerians while providing quality education to students regardless of their economic background.
“What we need is to give back to the school, not take it over,” he said.
A teacher who requested anonymity described the college as “a mini Nigeria,” reflecting the country’s cultural and religious diversity. She warned that concessioning could eventually make quality education unaffordable for many families.
In a communiqué presented at the meeting, the PTA Chairman, Mr. Peter Oluwaleye, said parents were united in their opposition to the concession of the school to KCOBA “under any guise.”
He maintained that education is a fundamental right and should not be reserved for those who can afford it.
“The challenges facing this college can be addressed through increased government funding, improved infrastructure, transparent management and meaningful stakeholder engagement—not by transferring responsibility for public education to private entities,” he said.
The PTA called on the Federal Government to immediately suspend the proposed concession and begin consultations with all stakeholders.
It also urged policymakers to prioritise investment in public education through adequate funding, improved facilities, qualified teachers and effective supervision.
The association further appealed to civil society organisations, labour unions, traditional rulers, religious leaders and other education stakeholders to support efforts to preserve public schools.
The communiqué warned that concessioning would inevitably lead to higher fees and other charges, forcing children from low-income families out of school.
Describing the process as “shrouded in secrecy,” the PTA insisted that the proposal be suspended, stressing that “the future of our children should never be sacrificed for commercial interests.”
