The controversy surrounding the Federal Government's concession of King’s College, Lagos, to the King’s College Old Boys’ Association has escalated, with parents and other stakeholders mobilising for a mass protest.
Chairman of the school's Parent-Teacher Association, Peter Oluwaseye, said the planned protest was necessary because parents and other members of the school community were opposed to the concession.
Oluwaseye maintained that King’s College remains a public institution and should not be placed under the control of its former students.
He argued that old students should support the school through donations and other forms of assistance rather than seek a role that could amount to taking over its management.
The dispute follows the announcement by KCOBA President Kashim Ibrahim-Imam that the Federal Government had approved the concession of the 116-year-old institution to the old boys' association.
KCOBA has defended the arrangement, insisting that the concession is not a sale or privatisation of the school.
The association said the arrangement is designed to create a new governance framework through which it can work with the government to modernise the institution while government ownership is retained.
As part of the plan, KCOBA launched a ₦100 billion endowment fund intended to support infrastructure renewal, teacher development, digital technology, scholarships, research, innovation and student welfare.
The fundraising has already attracted major contributions, including ₦1 billion from Ibrahim-Imam and ₦10 million from First Lady Oluremi Tinubu.
Other prominent old boys have also contributed substantial amounts towards the proposed redevelopment of the school.
However, the financial commitment has not resolved concerns among opponents of the concession.
The PTA chairman said parents, some senior civil servants and members of the surrounding community were not in support of the arrangement.
The disagreement has consequently shifted from questions about funding and infrastructure to a broader debate over who should control and govern a major public secondary school.
Supporters of the concession believe KCOBA's involvement could provide the resources and expertise needed to reverse years of infrastructure deterioration.
Opponents, however, remain concerned about the scope of the association's authority and the long-term implications for the school's public character.
The controversy has also raised broader questions about whether partnerships with old students' associations could become a model for rescuing other struggling public schools.
For parents, the immediate concern is ensuring that any new governance structure protects the interests of current students and preserves the school's public status.
With stakeholders now preparing for a protest, pressure is mounting on the Federal Government to provide greater clarity about the terms and implementation of the concession.
The dispute is expected to continue as parents, KCOBA and government authorities seek to resolve their conflicting positions over the future of one of Nigeria's most prominent secondary schools.