The Kings College Old Boys Association (KCOBA) has unveiled an ambitious roadmap to reposition Kings College, Lagos, through infrastructure renewal, technology, innovation, student welfare and world-class sporting facilities, as the institution marks its 117th anniversary.
The association, in its Kingsweek 2026 programme, said the federal government’s approval of a concession framework involving KCOBA presents an opportunity to establish a stronger institutional partnership focused on the restoration, modernisation and long-term sustainable development of the century-old college.
The development forms a major backdrop to this year’s Kingsweek, which runs from September 14 to 20 under the theme, “Owning Our Future: Advancing the Kings College Lagos Legacy.”
KCOBA said the framework should not be interpreted as a sale or privatisation of the institution, stressing that Kings College would retain its identity, heritage, character and national purpose.
“For the avoidance of doubt: there is no sale of Kings College. Kings College is not being sold. The concession is not a sale or privatisation of the College,” the association stated.
According to KCOBA, the arrangement is intended to provide a framework through which the old boys can work with government and other stakeholders to strengthen the institution while preserving its historic identity.
The association said the focus of the next phase should be on strengthening academic excellence, modernising infrastructure, advancing technology and innovation, improving teacher development and student welfare, and creating modern sporting facilities capable of supporting discipline, teamwork, wellbeing and talent development.
The 2026 Kingsweek theme, KCOBA said, represents a deliberate shift from celebrating the college’s history to taking responsibility for its future.
“This year’s theme is a call to move beyond nostalgia towards stewardship, renewal and action,” the association said, noting that Kings College has for more than a century stood for intellectual excellence, character, discipline, leadership and service.
Gbolahan Olayemi, chairman of the 2026 Kingsweek Planning Committee, said the anniversary had assumed greater significance because it coincides with a major transition in the management and development of the institution.
“Our college was founded on September 20, 1909, and we are here in the week of September 20, celebrating the 117th anniversary of the founding of our college, and at the same time taking charge of the management of our college,” Olayemi said.
He said the objective was to build on the institution’s historic achievements while positioning it for a more competitive future.
“When you look at that theme, you’ll understand the message that the old boys are trying to send to the whole world: yes, we have a glorious past, we have an even great present, and of course, we’re looking forward to a much, much greater future for Kings College Lagos,” he noted.
KCOBA said the proposed development agenda would require substantial mobilisation of financial resources, professional expertise, technology, partnerships and institutional capacity from old boys and other stakeholders.
It has therefore called on Kingsmen with financial capacity to contribute, professionals to make their expertise available, and members with access to government, corporations, technology providers and international networks to use those relationships to support the college.
The association said its responsibility under the new framework would extend beyond fundraising to mobilising the collective strength of its alumni network for the long-term benefit of the college.
Government, school leadership and teachers, parents, students, stakeholders and old boys, it said, all have a role to play in determining the future of the institution.
“The King’s College of tomorrow will be determined by what the Kingsmen of today are willing to do. We did not build King’s College — we inherited it. We are its custodians, and custodians hold what they inherit in trust,” KCOBA stated.
The association said investment in the college would cover not only physical infrastructure but also the total development of students, including modern learning environments, digital capabilities, innovation, welfare and sports.
It also pledged to incorporate accessibility into future infrastructure and programmes, including facilities for persons living with visual, hearing, mobility and other disabilities.
PPP clarification
The concession framework is expected to come under further scrutiny as KCOBA holds a dedicated engagement on the arrangement with the school’s leadership.
Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, president of KCOBA, said the association had decided to separate the PPP discussion from the anniversary engagement to allow the appropriate school authorities to address the matter comprehensively.
He said Femi Okunnu, president of Kings College and chairman of its Board of Trustees, would lead the engagement.
Ibrahim-Imam said the association wanted to ensure that the public received accurate information about the arrangement amid what he described as the dissemination of conflicting information.
“We felt that you need to hear from us in order to set the record very, very straight,” he said.
The separate briefing is expected to provide further clarification on the concession framework and the roles of government, KCOBA and other stakeholders.
Beyond the concession discussion, KCOBA said Kingsweek 2026 is designed to bring together generations of old boys, students, teachers, parents and members of the wider Kings College community to celebrate the institution while shaping its future.
The programme includes a virtual conference on September 15, a Jumat service and variety night on September 18, and the 117th Founders Day Lecture, fundraising and Annual Dinner on September 19 at Ecobank Hall, Ecobank Head Office, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The celebrations will culminate in a Thanksgiving Service at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, on September 20, followed by the KCOBA Annual General Meeting.
The intellectual programme will examine the institution, while taking a deep dive at the legacy inherited, the realities facing Kings College today, and the institution the next generation must build.
KCOBA said this approach reflects its determination to ensure that the college’s historic reputation is matched by modern institutional capacity.
The association’s ambition, it said, is to create a Kings College that is academically exceptional, technologically enabled, innovation-oriented and globally competitive, while remaining rooted in character, discipline and service.
