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A member of the King’s College Old Boys’ Association (KCOBA) and former Nigerian Bar Association president, Olumide Akpata, has explained why the association backed the concession of King’s College, Lagos, insisting that the arrangement is aimed at restoring the 117-year-old institution rather than acquiring it.
Akpata made the clarification during an interview on Arise News amid opposition from some parents, students, unions and other stakeholders to the Federal Government’s concession agreement with KCOBA.
The Federal Government has also clarified that the concession does not amount to a sale or privatisation of King’s College, saying legal ownership remains with the government while KCOBA is responsible for financing, rehabilitating, modernising, operating and maintaining the school under the agreement.
“King’s College has not been sold. We have not bought the school, the school has not been offered to us, and we are not interested in buying our school,” Akpata said.
He described the institution as the “Alma Mater” of its old students, saying the association could not stand by while the school deteriorated.
Akpata said KCOB’s planned ₦100 billion investment would be deployed to upgrade infrastructure, improve maintenance and enhance the learning experience for students.
The association launched a ₦100 billion Collegium Endowment Fund in July to support infrastructure renewal, teacher development, digital technology, scholarships, innovation, research and student welfare.
According to Akpata, KCOBA has already invested billions of naira in the school over the years, including renovating buildings, upgrading sports facilities, installing generators, establishing an ICT laboratory and providing a library equipped with Braille facilities for visually impaired students.
“We have renovated every building standing in that school at one point in time or another. We have redone the sports pitch, put tartan tracks, put drainage under the football pitch,” he said.
“What have we not done? We have put generators in that school, an ICT lab, and a library for the blind students where Braille and other equipment have been provided.”
He said the challenge was that facilities often deteriorated after the association’s interventions because of inadequate maintenance.
Akpata explained that the concession was therefore intended to formalise KCOBA’s longstanding support for the institution and give the association a structured framework to raise and deploy funds for its development.
“So when we went to government, we said, ‘We know you have a lot on your plate. We are ready to help. We have been helping, and we have demonstrated capacity. Going forward, can we formalize this engagement?’” he said.
“We are going to raise money to make sure that we upgrade infrastructure. We are going to raise money to make sure that the learning experience of our boys will be top-notch, world-class.”
Addressing concerns raised by teachers, parents and other stakeholders, Akpata said he understood the reservations but maintained that the door remained open for further discussions.
He said the Federal Ministry of Education had engaged with unions during the process and that KCOBA was willing to meet with stakeholders to explain the objectives of the concession.
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“We are ready to continue the conversation. We are ready to talk to the stakeholders so that they can hear from us,” he said.
The concerns have included the effect of the arrangement on admissions, school fees, staff and the public character of the institution. Parents and students staged a protest in August against the concession and threatened legal action.
The Federal Government has subsequently stated that King’s College remains a public national institution and that admissions will continue under applicable Unity College policies, including principles of merit, transparency, fairness and national representation.
On allegations of admission racketeering and excessive levies at the school, Akpata said he had not personally witnessed such practices but acknowledged that he had heard reports about them.
“I cannot put hand to heart and tell you that I have witnessed anything of the sort, but we have heard these stories so many times,” he said.
According to him, the concession is expected to address such alleged “leakages” and improve accountability within the school.
“These are the leakages that we intend to block,” Akpata said.
Akpata said KCOBA expected visible improvements within three years, while stressing that the association would be bound by the terms of the concession agreement.
“It is a marathon, not a sprint, but we are committed,” he said.
He noted that the agreement contains provisions relating to inclusivity, access and fees, adding that KCOBA could face consequences if it failed to comply with its obligations.
“I think in the next couple of years—in three years maximum—you will begin to see a turnaround,” he said.
The Federal Government has said the concession agreement contains performance indicators, infrastructure standards, reporting requirements, audits and inspection mechanisms, while retaining oversight and corrective powers.
Akpata also rejected the suggestion that the arrangement was driven by commercial interests, insisting that KCOBA’s objective was to restore the institution to the standards envisioned by its founders.
“There is no profit motive here; it is all altruistic. We want to look after our mother,” he said.
“We want to make sure that the products of King’s College are those that were envisaged by the founding fathers: leaders who will continue to steer the ship of our nation ahead.”
