Graduation ceremonies are a time-honoured tradition, marking the culmination of years of hard work and dedication by students. These celebrations are often filled with joy, pride, and a sense of accomplishment, as students bid farewell to one chapter of their lives and embark on new journeys.
However, in recent times, some Nigerian states have taken steps to ban or restrict graduation ceremonies in schools, citing concerns over financial burden, indecent behavior, and other issues.
This development has sparked a lively debate about the role of graduation ceremonies in modern education. Graduation ceremonies have become a concern in some Nigerian states due to associated ills. Excessive spending, indecent dressing, rowdiness, vandalism, and safety risks have marred some celebrations.
These issues have prompted some state governments to ban or restrict graduation ceremonies in schools. The concerns highlight the need for responsible planning and conduct of graduation ceremonies, ensuring they remain a celebration of academic achievement rather than a source of problems.
By promoting moderation and decorum, graduation ceremonies can be a positive and memorable experience for students and their families. Consequently, several Nigerian states have implemented bans or restrictions on graduation ceremonies in schools. The Kano government has prohibited unauthorised graduation activities in state-owned secondary schools.
It cited concerns over indecent behaviour, financial excesses, and property damage. This ban was announced on July 24, 2024, by Dahiru Muhammad, Executive Secretary of the Kano State Science and Technical Schools Board.
On July 24, 2025, the Sokoto government announced a ban on all sign-out celebrations for graduating secondary school students in both public and private schools in Sokoto. It linked the decision to rising cases of misconduct and vandalism associated with such events.
In Imo, the government has banned graduation parties for kindergarten, nursery, and JSS 3 pupils on August 18, 2025. This action aims to restore moral values among students and reduce financial burdens on parents.
In Ondo, the government has prohibited graduation ceremonies for nursery, primary, and junior secondary schools scheduled for August 27, 2025. This was part of a broader education reform aimed at easing financial pressure on parents.
Also, the Edo government has confirmed a clampdown on graduation ceremonies in nursery and primary schools. It called them “extravagant and misplaced” due to concerns over excessive spending and misplaced priorities.
However, many Nigerian parents and stakeholders have mixed opinions about these bans.
Some welcomed the move as a relief from financial pressure and a way to restore discipline.
Others argued that the bans distract from deeper educational problems, such as unemployment, poor infrastructure, and lack of scholarships.
Meanwhile, parents in Kaduna have said that they would breathe a sigh of relief if the government considers banning primary school graduation ceremonies. This would reduce unnecessary expenses associated with such events.
The Ondo government has already implemented the policy of banning nursery and JSS 3 graduation parties. Conducting a survey across stakeholders in the education sector in Kaduna, they believed that the policy, if replicated in the state, would redirect focus to academic achievement.
However, when contacted, the director of Public Schools, Kaduna Ministry of Education, Mercy Kude, said, “At our end, deliberations are ongoing and we hope to get to a conclusion soon. Reduced financial burden on parents would be one potential benefit if the Kaduna state government bans it”, Aminu Lawal, a teacher, pointed out. Parents would no longer have to worry about graduation expenses.”
Also, supporting the ban, John David, a teacher, said, “This policy, if enacted, will help us focus on academic excellence. The ban could promote discipline and value reorientation; students would learn to prioritise what truly matters.”
Maryam Ibrahim, an education expert, reiterated that increased focus on academic achievements is another potential benefit, where the students would prioritise their studies over extravagant ceremonies. She added that if the policy is enacted in Kaduna, it could help the parents to prioritise their children’s education.
Additionally, Omolara Olanipekun, principal of Funmi Schools, Barnawa, stated that her school may benefit from the policy.
The Kaduna government had implemented various initiatives to improve education, including education-focused programmes. The potential ban on graduation ceremonies would therefore be part of a broader effort to reform the education system.
“Parents are eager to see how the policy develops,” Esther Akut, a parent, said. “We don’t want to be spending too much on graduation ceremonies. The potential ban on graduation ceremonies is a step in the right direction. It could benefit parents, students, and the education system.”
A member of the Kaduna Education Accountability Mechanism, Solomon Dauda, stated that the Kaduna State Government should consider the potential benefits of the ban, noting that it could improve the state’s education system.
In a related development, the Katsina government has directed public secondary schools in the state to monitor the students during graduation ceremonies. This, according to the government, is intended to prevent misconduct among them.
The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Zainab Musa-Musawa, issued the directive in a circular. According to her, the directive was aimed at addressing the growing concern regarding the behaviour of students during the celebrations marking the completion of their Senior School Certificate Examinations.
“It has come to the attention of the ministry that there is an increasing trend of students engaging in unethical activities, such as excessive partying and unauthorised sign-outs, both within and outside school premises.
“These behaviours not only compromise the safety and well-being of our students but also tarnish the reputation of our educational institutions. To this end, schools are directed to develop a system for monitoring and addressing misconduct. And also, any student found guilty of engaging in unethical behavior should face appropriate disciplinary action,” she said.
Meanwhile, some teachers have called on parents to intensify efforts in ensuring the proper upbringing of their children and wards. They said that the increasing rate at which the students were engaging in unethical behaviours in the name of graduation ceremonies could be attributed to the type of family a student came from.
Abubakar Sani, a teacher at one of the public schools in Katsina, said that parents should be blamed for most of the negative things their children do during such ceremonies.
Mr Sani revealed that the unfortunate situation was how the male and female students indecently engaged with each other during such obnoxious ceremonies. According to him, some of the students were even smart enough to organise the events outside their school’s premises.
He recalled a time when some students organised such a ceremony and involved some innocent female students in the ugly act. Mr Sani cited an instance where, during such ceremonies, female students engaged in plaiting and braiding the hair of their male colleagues.
He stated, “When the information reached the school authority, the teachers reported the matter to the police, where most of the students were arrested and punished accordingly.”
Tukur Aliyu, a father, called on the government to ban graduation ceremonies in both public and private schools across the state. Mr Aliyu said that the call became imperative to curb moral decadence among the youths.
He said that a lot of students were introduced to drug abuse and prostitution, among other immoral acts, during such graduation ceremonies.
“The only way to save innocent students from indulging in those kinds of immorality is if the government prohibits the act, be it within school premises or in the town. The Police should be directed to arrest any erring students and be punished to serve as a deterrent to others,” he stated.
(NAN)
