By Victoria Tokolo
The King’s College Old Boys’ Association (KCOBA) has launched a ₦100 billion Collegium Fund to drive the comprehensive restoration and transformation of King’s College, Lagos, following the Federal Government’s approval of the school’s concession to the association.
Speaking at a press conference in Lagos on Monday, outgoing KCOBA President and former Minister of Education, Alhaji Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, described the concession as a landmark development in the institution’s 116-year history.
He expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the concession, saying the decision reflected confidence in the alumni’s capacity to reposition one of Nigeria’s most prestigious secondary schools. He also commended the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, for championing reforms aimed at strengthening the country’s education sector.
Ibrahim-Imam said the concession represents a significant step toward revitalising the historic institution and would benefit not only KCOBA but also Nigerian education, parents, teachers and future generations.
He assured that despite the concession, King’s College would retain its federal character and continue to admit students from all parts of the country.
According to him, the association’s transformation blueprint is anchored on seven strategic pillars: strengthening governance, rehabilitating infrastructure, integrating the main campus with the annexe, improving teachers’ welfare and capacity development, digitising school operations, promoting academic excellence, and reinforcing discipline, leadership and character development.
To finance the ambitious reform agenda, KCOBA unveiled the ₦100 billion Collegium Fund, which will support infrastructure renewal, technology integration, teacher development, scholarships, student welfare and other long-term institutional projects.
The fund will be chaired by the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, while renowned businessman Atedo Peterside will serve as vice chairman.
Demonstrating his commitment to the initiative, Ibrahim-Imam announced a personal donation of ₦1 billion to the fund. Members of the Board of Trustees, Chief Philip Asiodu and Alhaji Femi Okunnu, also pledged ₦100 million each, while the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, contributed ₦10 million in support of the project.
He appealed to corporate organisations, development partners and King’s College alumni across the world to contribute to the fund, stressing that investing in the institution is an investment in Nigeria’s future leadership and human capital.
Ibrahim-Imam expressed optimism that the initiative would restore King’s College to its status as one of Africa’s leading secondary schools through sustainable reforms, quality education and the adoption of global best practices.
