Onome Amuge
King’s College Lagos, one of Nigeria’s oldest secondary schools, is set to celebrate its 116th anniversary (Kingsweek 2025) this September with a week-long programme of events designed to honour its history while charting a course for its future.
Speaking at a press briefing ahead of the ceremony, Leke Oshunniyi,the president of the King’s College Old Boys’ Association (KCOBA), highlighted the financial constraints facing schools across the country and the role of alumni associations in sustaining . “The economic situation globally, and particularly in Nigeria, has put a lot of pressure on educational institutions. There has been found to be a need for alumni associations to come back, to come and assist by giving back to their own schools,” he said.
The KCOBA president remarked:“King’s College Lagos has been a pillar of excellence for over a century. The 116th anniversary is a reminder of our duty as Old Boys to safeguard its legacy, invest in its future, and ensure it continues to produce leaders for Nigeria and beyond. We are honoured by the participation of Her Excellency, the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu CON, and we invite all Old Boys, friends, and well-wishers to join us in making this Kingsweek truly memorable.”
Oshunniyi explained that this year’s anniversary would place strong emphasis on the future of education, with a particular focus on emerging trends such as artificial intelligence. He noted that while the celebrations honour King’s College Lagos’ long-standing traditions, they also highlight the need to embrace innovation to ensure the institution remains relevant in a rapidly changing world.
Unveiling the 2025 Kingsweek programme, Wole Ekperokun, chairman of the planning committee, described the institution as one that has shaped leaders in politics, law, architecture, medicine, business, the arts and public service. He added that its Latin motto, Floreat Collegium (let the college flourish) continues to inspire generations of alumni to contribute to Nigeria and the wider world.
This year’s theme, “The King’s College Legacy: Honouring the Past, Empowering the Future”, is considered both a reflection and a call to action. “While we must celebrate the strong foundation laid by our forefathers, we also bear the responsibility of setting the course for future generations,” Ekperokun said.
One of the most forward-looking aspects of this year’s programme will be the virtual conference on 16 September, focusing on Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Education in Nigeria. Ekperokun said the decision to spotlight AI reflects its growing role in classrooms. “When technology comes in, we need to understand it and take the best from it. This is why we are focusing on AI,” he explained.
Drawing an analogy with the evolution of mobile phones, he warned of the risks of falling behind. “Can you imagine if someone missed the last 25 years of development? They would be like a primitive. The world is moving, and we have to understand how best to manage that movement for the betterment of our own environment,” he said.
At the same time, he cautioned that uncritical reliance on AI could undermine learning. “The temptation to resort to AI is a very strong one, and it is affecting the level of academic performance globally. We must make sure that its application is appropriate,” he added.
Calling on alumni in Lagos, Abuja, London, New York, Johannesburg and beyond to rally behind the college, he said: “Kingsweek 2025 is not only a celebration, it’s also a call for action. Together we can honour the legacy we inherited and empower the future that awaits.”
The 2025 Kingsweek will run from 15 to 21 September. The centrepiece will be the 116th Founder’s Day Lecture and Annual Dinner at the Metropolitan Club in Lagos, with Oluremi Tinubu, Nigeria’s First Lady, attending as Guest of Honour. The keynote speaker, Hakeem Belo-Osagie, a Harvard Business School academic and former KCOBA president, will reflect on the link between education, national development and philanthropy.
Panelists will include Ani Charles Bassey-Eyo on King’s College’s historic role in leadership, Adeniyi Odejobi on alumni responsibility, Gbolahan Olayomi on education reform, and Olusoji Akinyele on the vision for the next century.
Other highlights include a virtual conference on artificial intelligence in education, religious services for both Muslim and Christian alumni, a Variety Night of Thrills in Victoria Island, a soccer fiesta at the college’s main campus, and the KCOBA Annual General Meeting to review finances and strategy.
