The Kogi State Government has reiterated its ban on excessive graduation ceremonies in nursery, primary and junior secondary schools, warning that any institution that violates the directive risks being shut down.
The Commissioner for Education, Mr. Wemi Jones, issued the warning during a stakeholders’ sensitisation meeting on the 2025/2026 Kogi State Annual School Census held at the Government House in Lokoja.
Jones explained that the policy, which took effect at the beginning of the current academic session, was introduced to ease the financial burden placed on parents by frequent and often unnecessary graduation celebrations.
He expressed concern over the growing trend of schools organising elaborate ceremonies for pupils moving from nursery classes to primary school and other lower educational levels.
According to him, the state government has outlawed graduation ceremonies for pupils transitioning from nursery to primary school, primary six to junior secondary school, and junior secondary school to senior secondary school.
The commissioner clarified that only students completing Senior Secondary School Three (SSS3) are permitted to hold a formal graduation event, which should take the form of a Speech and Prize-Giving Day aimed at recognising academic excellence and preparing students for higher education.
He stressed that schools that continue to organise unauthorised graduation ceremonies are violating state regulations and contributing to unnecessary financial pressure on families.
Jones noted that the government had already taken steps to ensure compliance, including issuing circulars to schools across the state and conducting awareness visits to educational institutions.
He added that the directive has also been publicised through radio announcements, making it difficult for any school to claim ignorance of the policy.
“Nobody can say they are not aware. Any school that decides not to obey will be made an example of by being closed down,” he warned.
The commissioner also reaffirmed the state government’s ban on sign-out celebrations by students in tertiary institutions, describing the practice as unnecessary and often disruptive.
On security, Jones assured stakeholders that the government had put measures in place to safeguard schools against attacks and abductions, stressing that protecting learners remains a top priority.
The meeting also reviewed plans for the 2025/2026 Annual School Census, which the Ministry of Education said would provide reliable data for educational planning, policy formulation and resource allocation across the state.
Kogi State first announced the ban on frequent graduation ceremonies and sign-out activities in September 2025 as part of efforts to promote discipline, reduce financial strain on parents and refocus attention on academic achievement.