Kogi bans school graduation ceremonies for lower classes, warning schools of closure over lavish celebrations and financial pressure on parents
The Kogi State Government has reaffirmed its ban on graduation ceremonies for nursery, primary and junior secondary school pupils, warning that schools that violate the directive risk closure.
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The Commissioner for Education, Wemi Jones, issued the warning on Monday during a stakeholders’ meeting on the 2025/2026 Annual School Census exercise held in Lokoja.
Wemi Jones said the policy remains in force and was introduced to reduce financial pressure on parents caused by what he described as unnecessary and excessive school celebrations.
He stressed that only students completing Senior Secondary School Three are permitted to hold formal graduation events, commonly known as Speech and Prize Giving Day.
According to him, ceremonies for pupils moving between lower classes, including nursery to primary, Primary Six to JSS One, and JSS Three to SSS One, remain strictly prohibited.
“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.
He warned that any school that defies the directive would face strict sanctions, including possible closure, describing enforcement as firm and uncompromising.
Wemi Jones also criticised the growing culture of elaborate graduation events, noting that the government had repeatedly communicated the policy through official channels, school visits and media announcements.
He urged compliance, warning that authorities would not hesitate to make examples of erring schools to enforce discipline across the education sector.
The commissioner also reiterated the state’s ban on sign-out activities in tertiary institutions and assured residents that additional measures had been put in place to improve security around schools.
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He added that preparations were ongoing for the upcoming school census, which would provide critical data for education planning and policy development in the state.
