The Federal Government, on Friday September 11, clarified that King’s College, Lagos, has neither been sold nor privatised, stressing that it retains legal ownership of the 117-year-old institution despite a concession agreement with the King’s College Old Boys’ Association (KCOBA).
Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, said the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement only transfers responsibility for financing, rehabilitating, modernising, operating and maintaining the school to KCOBA. He stressed that the government would retain its statutory, regulatory, monitoring and enforcement powers.
Alausa said the agreement provides for major investment in academic and administrative buildings, hostels, laboratories, libraries, health facilities, utilities, sports facilities and other infrastructure. He added that admissions would remain subject to Unity College policies, merit, transparency, fairness and national representation, with JSS1 entry continuing through the prescribed National Common Entrance Examination framework.
The minister also said the agreement does not automatically increase school fees, while existing staff entitlements and obligations arising before transition remain protected. He said government would monitor implementation through audits, inspections, performance indicators and other safeguards, with powers to intervene in cases of serious contractual default.
Alausa urged stakeholders to judge the concession by its implementation and measurable outcomes, particularly improvements in infrastructure, academic performance, admissions, staff welfare and students’ safety. He said the ultimate objective was to preserve King’s College’s heritage while strengthening the institution for present and future generations.
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