Kogi govt restates ban on excessive graduation, sign-out ceremonies in schools, threatens sanctions
By Stephen Adeleye
Lokoja, June 15, 2026
The Kogi Government has restated its ban on excessive graduation ceremonies in nursery, primary, and junior secondary schools, warning that any school that violates the directive will be shut down.
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The government also reaffirmed its ban on sign-out ceremonies by undergraduates after their final semester examinations across the state.
The Commissioner for Education, Hon. Wemi Jones, issued the warning on Monday at stakeholders’ sensitization meeting on 2025/2026 Kogi State Annual School Census (ASC) exercise at Government House, Lokoja.
Jones said the policy took effect at the start of the current academic session to reduce financial pressure on parents.
He expressed concern that graduation parties are now held even for pupils moving from nursery to primary one.
“Please let me remind all of us that the ban on excessive celebration for graduation is still in force for primary and secondary schools. We have outlawed it in Kogi State,” he said.
The commissioner clarified that only students completing SSS 3 and moving to university are allowed to hold a formal celebration, in the form of the traditional Speech and Prize Giving Day.
“It is when you are leaving SSS three that you are allowed to have a celebration where you invite respected people to speak to the children and award prizes to deserving students,” he explained.
He warned that schools organizing ceremonies for pupils moving from nursery to primary one, primary six to JSS one, or JSS three to SSS one are infringing state law.
“The type of pressure this puts on parents is better imagined. We are now in third term when graduation ceremonies usually come up. Please, let us beg ourselves now so you won’t beg us later,” he said.
The commissioner said enforcement mechanisms are in place, saying thousands of letters signed by his office have been sent to all schools, and he has visited schools within and outside Lokoja.
He also re-emphasized the directive on radio.
“Nobody can say ‘I am not aware’. Any school that decides not to obey will be made an example by being closed down,” he stated.
On school security, the Commissioner said the government has deployed strategies to protect students from abduction and attacks.
“We have put certain strategies in place to ensure our students are safe and are not taken into the bush. We are working to forestall that,” he added.
The meeting also focused on preparations for the 2025/2026 Annual School Census, which the ministry said will provide accurate data to guide education planning for the new academic year.
The Kogi Government had in September 2025 placed a ban on incessant
graduation ceremonies in secondary, primary, and pre-primary schools, and sign-out in tertiary institutions in the state.
End
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER, JUNE 16TH 2026)
