The long-standing Nigerian “sign-out” tradition, where graduating students joyfully spray farewell messages across white shirts, is undergoing dramatic change as state governments and institutions clamp down on the practice.
The Sokoto State Government first stirred national debate on July 24, 2025, when it prohibited all sign-out ceremonies in secondary schools. Officials said the ritual had increasingly led to vandalism, unruly street parades, and indecent dressing.
Soon after, on August 18, 2025, the Imo State Government issued its own directive banning graduation parties for pupils in nursery, kindergarten, and Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS-3). The National Orientation Agency (NOA) openly endorsed the decision, warning against cultural practices that undermine Nigeria’s values.
The trend extended to Ondo State on August 27, 2025, where nursery, primary, and junior secondary school graduations were scrapped to reduce parents’ financial burdens.
Even universities have joined in. At Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Anambra State, administrators outlawed final-year “signing-off” events on August 20, 2025. The following day, security officers escorted two female students off campus for appearing in ink-covered shirts.
Edo State confirmed similar prohibitions on August 28, 2025, barring nursery and primary school graduation events in the state.
Educational officials argue that the bans are not targeted at celebration but at excesses. Speaking at a civic engagement in Osun State, Ayisola Olowoyo of the NOA stressed that writing on private body parts violates moral standards. He stated:
“They write on the laps of their colleagues, they write on the breasts of their colleagues. This is against national values.”
Online, Nigerians remain divided. While some Facebook users applauded the moves as steps to restore order, others argued that the government should focus instead on unemployment and educational infrastructure. One social media comment read: “Graduate no see work do for this country. See wetin be Federal Government (FG) concern.”
On Instagram, reactions leaned emotional. “Anything to take away the happiness of the youth,” user Helmaqueen1 lamented.
Frontpagenews.ng reports that the sweeping bans now leave one pressing question: should youthful joy be curtailed for the sake of discipline, or should tradition be preserved as a harmless expression of celebration?
