By Victoria Okpanachi
The Kogi State Government has warned that any school found violating its ban on lavish graduation ceremonies for nursery, primary and junior secondary school pupils will face closure, as authorities move to enforce compliance ahead of the end-of-session.
The Commissioner for Education, Hon. Wemi Jones, issued the warning during a stakeholders’ sensitisation meeting on the 2025/2026 Annual School Census in Lokoja recently, reiterating that the policy was introduced to reduce the financial burden imposed on parents and guardians by unnecessary graduation activities.
The government also reaffirmed its prohibition of sign-out ceremonies in tertiary institutions, stressing that schools and students must adhere strictly to the directive or risk sanctions.
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Hon. Jones expressed concern over the growing trend of schools organising elaborate ceremonies for pupils advancing from one class to another, including transitions from nursery to primary school.
He stressed that the State Government had outlawed such celebrations and urged school proprietors and administrators to comply fully with the directive.
The commissioner clarified that the only recognised graduation event remains the traditional Speech and Prize-Giving Day for students completing Senior Secondary School (SSS III) and preparing to proceed to higher institutions.
Such events, he noted, are intended to celebrate academic achievement, inspire graduating students and reward excellence.
He warned that ceremonies organised for pupils moving from nursery to primary school, Primary Six to Junior Secondary School, or Junior Secondary School to Senior Secondary School constitute a violation of state policy.
Hon. Jones noted that the government had already communicated the directive widely through official correspondence, school visits and radio announcements, adding that no school could legitimately claim ignorance of the policy.
He further disclosed that enforcement mechanisms had been put in place and warned that any school found flouting the directive would face sanctions, including possible closure.
