The Principal, King’s College Lagos, Mr Magaji Zachary has emphasised the need for stakeholders to step up efforts, in partnering with the institution, to make it a major hub for talent development.
Zachary made the call in an interview on the sidelines of the 106th Annual Inter-House Sports and Athletics competitions of the 116-year-old all boys institution on Saturday in Lagos.
According to him, despite the meager resources of the college, management has ensured that the students are fully exposed to the core mandate of teaching and learning, as well as, sporting development.
He noted that the Federal Government on its part, has done exceedingly well, in attending to the various needs of the college, nothing that, it cannot do it all alone, considering numerous other national issues, jostling for its attention.
He however, lauded the Old boys and the Parent forum of the college, for their intervention and encouragement, in ensuring that the institution maintained its leading role in the nurturing/mentoring of the country’s future leaders.
“Let me start by commending the King’s College Old Boys (KCOB) for always coming through for their college, especially through various intervention projects.
“What I have witnessed with the KCOB is their desire and willingness to give back.
“It may interest you to know that currently, there is a world-class Basketball Court being constructed on the Main Campus, by an international organisation through an Old boy of the college.
“It is a world class basketball court that has everything you can find in any world standard basketball court. Infact, we are looking forward to hosting an international basketball tournament there soon.
“The Old boys are willing to do more, if all their efforts in providing support for the college is protected.
“One thing we have been doing is to ensure we make judicious use of the meagre resources at our disposal, but an area of concern for us, has always been that of poor maintenance culture on the part of the students.
“A day like today is a powerful metaphor for what we can achieve together in unity. The track is a great equalizer; it doesn’t care for your background, or social circle. It only responds to your preparation, your heart and wil,”he stated.
According to the 26 PKC, the college will not relent in its efforts in producing more athletes that would one day be celebrated on the global stage in the near future.
He however sighted funding as one of the constraints facing the college, noting however that the challenge would not make management loose focus in delivering their core mandate.
Zachary also commended the support of the teachers and the parent forum of the institution, whose contributions led to the successful organisation of the games and other key activities.
“Infact they supported us a lot. When I came here in 2025, the parents were the ones that stabilized me. Today, If I am standing firmly with my two feet, it is because of their support and as you can see, immediately after the competition, they high jacked the celebration, turning the entire place to a sort of carnival,” he stated.
Speaking further about the interhouse sports competition, the principal said: What we are doing here today is to add to the existing achievements of the college and I am privileged that it is happening during my time, as the 26th PKC. I feel elated.
“Today marks a very important day here in King’s College, as we are gathered here not just for a competition, but for a celebration; a celebration of history, of the spirit, and of resilience.
“Celebrating the 106th inter house competition of this great college resonates deeply, as it connects us in an unbroken chains to generations past, to young men and women who had once sat where you are cheering, who dug their spikes in this same earth, hearts pounding with the same mixture of nerves and excitement.
“They were building a legacy, a legacy of sportsmanship, of House pride, and of understanding that true victory lies not only in the breaking of a tape, but in the strength of character displayed along the way.
“Like I have already mentioned, the college is poised to producing future athletes that will one day make the country proud, using the limited sporting infrastructure in ground.
“I witnessed the last interhouse sports and observed areas we need to improve upon and so, I made up my mind that this year’s own is going to be different,
“Again, from the results recorded today across all the sports categories, all the winners will be sorted out, groomed and then, form the team that will represent the college at various competitions in the coming year,” he stated.
Also speaking, Arch.William Uko, Chairman of, the School Based Management Committee (SBMC) of the college, expressed delight at the atmosphere of frenzy, that characterised the competition.
According to Uko, also an Old Boy (1979/84) set of the college, it is not just the sports that mattered, but for the opportunity for bonding, noting that so much have been improved upon and evolved over the years.
“You find out that people are competing, yet, they are not disagreeable. I noticed that beyond just challenging themselves in terms of raw skills, there was this healthy spirit of creativity and competition, the determination, beginning with the march past.
“There is that healthy rivalry and you never know where this will end up. With these activities that takes place from time to time, they may live to cherish it in years to come.
“Overall, I still see that sense of responsibility and connection to the college amongst the old boys, who are always willing to answer “here”, whenever “the trumpet is sounded”.
“I still anticipate that we will get there. The good thing now is not about depending solely on government. The old boys are beginning to show a greater sense of attachment. There is always that aspiration that we can always make things work,” he stated.
Engr. Peter Olaoluwa Oluwaleye, Chairman, Parent -Teacher Association of the college on his part, expressed delight at the care and commitment shown by the college management, in improving the welfare of the boys.
According to him, the open door policy of the Magaji Zachary-led administration has been warmly welcome by parents of the college.
“This year’s inter-house sports competition is exceptional. Parents literarily took over the preparation; it is like parents have been waiting for this opportunity to express their appreciation over the improvement of activities in the college as a whole, since the arrival of the current PKC, in January 2025.
“He has been a father, a rallying point, easy to approach. Since his coming, we have seen appreciable progress; his approach to the school administration is Pro student, student and student..
“And from feedbacks, the parents appreciate this a lot. Take for instance, there has been a remarkable progress in the food and the preparation and thus development has warned the hearts of parents who normally get feedbacks from their children and wards.
“As a way of appreciation therefore, they came out in their numbers to ensure this particular competition remains memorable by making their own sports wear and even providing their own food. They just want to merry, not allowing the fasting by some of them, weigh them down,” he said.
Speaking on the need for stakeholders to collaborate with the Federal Government to more attention to the development of sports in the college, the KCPTA boss noted that sports remained an integral part for an all round development of every child.
“We want to believe that a lot could still be done to improve the culture of sports in schools generally in the county. There is still room for improvement.
“Today, what we have seen so far is a positive response our boys; there is that zeal, that drive and determination to conquer.
“The college already has an antecedent of glowing sports culture but by one way or the other, has been experiencing a form of lull. But currently, I dare say that old sporting culture is gradually picking up.
“We are trusting God too that government can do some more in the improvement of sports not just in this great college, but in schools across the country as a whole.
The competition ended with the Hyde Johnson’ House (Red), emerging winners.
