• As First Lady, Ibrahim-Imam, Okunnu, Asiodu raise N1.21b to boost KCOBA infrastructure
Oluchi Chibuzor
The King’s College Old Boys’ Association (KCOBA) has hailed the concession of the King’s College Lagos by the administration of President Bola Tinubu, describing the initiative as an evolution of public education in the country.
This is coming as the First Lady of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu, Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, Femi Okunnu and Philip Asiodu collectively raised the sum of one billion, two hundred and ten million Naira to the N100 billion collegiate fund of the college.
Speaking at the press conference held in Lagos yesterday to announce the collegiate fund, the President, KCOBA, Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, said the event is a defining moment not merely in the history of King’s College Lagos, but in the continuing evolution of public education in Nigeria.
According to him, “The approval by the federal government of the concession of King’s College Lagos to the King’s College Old Boys’ Association represents one of the most consequential developments since the establishment of our great institution in 1909.
“At the outset, permit me, on behalf of every Kingsman across Nigeria and the diaspora, to express our profound and heartfelt appreciation to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
“Mr. President’s approval of this concession is an act of innovative leadership. This leadership was also exemplified during his tenure as governor of Lagos State, when schools were returned to Christian and Islamic missions – St Gregory’s College, Igbobi College, Holy Child College Ansar-u-deen, Anwar Islam to mention a few.
“It reflects courage, trust and a willingness to embrace innovative solutions to longstanding national challenges. Rather than accepting decline as inevitable, Mr. President has chosen to empower those with the deepest emotional investment in the future of the institution and its alumni to become active partners in its restoration.
“This decision demonstrates confidence not merely in KCOBA, but in the enduring power of responsible citizenship, institutional stewardship, and public-private collaboration.”
However, he said even as proud as they are of their history, “we have also watched, with growing concern, the gradual deterioration of many of the facilities, systems, and structures that once made King’s College the undisputed standard bearer of secondary education in Nigeria.”
This he said led to the establishment of a N100 billion Collegium fund to ensure that the financial burden does not fall disproportionately upon parents.
“Today, that trajectory changes and today begins the King’s College Renaissance. KCOBA remains fully committed to preserving and strengthening that national character and we believe excellence and inclusion are complementary not competing-values. To every parent listening today, allow me to speak directly to you,” he said.
Addressing the concerns of parents on the concession, he assured that they would abide by federal character.
“You want to know whether your children will still have access to the opportunities that King’s College has historically provided. Our objective is not to create an exclusive institution accessible only to the privileged. Far from it.
“Indeed, one of the central reasons behind the establishment of the 100 billion collegium fund is precisely to ensure that the financial burden of transformation does not fall disproportionately upon parents.
“We believe that the children of ordinary Nigerians deserve extraordinary educational opportunities. That conviction lies at the heart of everything we intend to do,” he said.
He equally announced that as part of their contribution to the fund, notable kingsmen have supported in achieving the N100b target.
“As part of my support I have donated N1billion, Femi Okunnu and Phillip Asiodu N100m each, while the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu donated N10m,” he stated.