Kings College, Lagos, a boys-only Secondary School was established by an Act of British Parliament on Monday 20th of September 1909, with Mr. Lomax as its first Principal.

The College (originally called King's School, Lagos) opened with ten scholars. It was established to produce students of profound character and academic distinction – men who would build an independent Nigeria. In the words of the colonialists, the College was established:

to provide for the youth of the Colony a higher general education than that supplied by the existing schools, to prepare them for the Matriculation Examination of the University of London, and to give a useful course of study to those who intend to qualify for professional life or to enter Government or Mercantile Service

King's College is a national institution, the nation's numero uno in post primary education. Today, King's College, Lagos, remains the best College in terms of prestige, character formation, discipline and academic excellence. Its contemporaries in West Africa are Achimota College, Ghana and Fourabay College, Sierra Leone. In England, Kings College compares favourably with Eaton College, Harrow and a few others.

In 1914, Sir Lord Fredrick Lugard, the Governor-General of Nigeria, described King's College, Lagos, in a White Paper as the leading school in the Colony as well as the Premier School.

In the present dispensation, the King's College Old Boys have served creditably. Chief Ufot Ekaette, former Secretary to the Federal Government served as the Minister of Niger Delta Ministry; Dr. Shamsudeen Usman, Minister of Economic Planning and Dr. Mansur Muktar, Minister of Finance. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi is currently the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, while  Dr. Bukola Saraki is the Executive Governor of Kwara State, (to mention but a few). Sanusi Dagash has just been appointed Minister of Works. They are King's College Old Boys that have proved their worth in the political and economic arenas in Nigeria.

UNESCO AND KING'S COLLEGE

In recognition of its immense contribution to world development through effective education of young people, the UNESCO listed King's College, Lagos among the institutions to celebrate their founders’ days by the organisation in 1909. In order to underscore the importance of King's College to the UNESCO, its Director General, Mr. Koichiro Moisuura delivered the College Centenary lecture on Wednesday, 7th January 2009.

Otunba Dele Olapeju MNIM, is the current Principal of King's College.