A growing number of parents in Kaduna, Kano, and Katsina states have called for an outright ban on elaborate graduation ceremonies in primary and secondary schools, arguing that the events have become unnecessary, financially burdensome, and morally questionable.
Parents who spoke on the matter said what was once a simple handover of certificates has now turned into extravagant displays involving expensive clothing, high entertainment costs, and financial demands on families. They stressed that many households in northern Nigeria are already struggling with economic hardship and cannot afford the additional expenses tied to these ceremonies.
Concerns were also raised about the cultural and moral implications of the celebrations. Some parents complained that the ceremonies often feature inappropriate music, dances, and social practices that expose young students to influences at odds with community values. According to them, schools that encourage such practices are doing so more for profit and social display than for the educational benefit of their pupils.
In Kaduna, several parents criticized schools for making attendance at graduation parties compulsory and charging mandatory fees. They said this practice punishes families who cannot afford the costs, creating divisions among students and unnecessary pressure on parents. One parent described the trend as “commercialization of education,” warning that schools risk losing sight of their core mandate to provide quality learning.
Similar concerns were echoed in Kano, where parents noted that graduation events have turned into competitions among schools. Some institutions reportedly rent event centers, hire popular entertainers, and even request elaborate costumes from students. Parents said this level of extravagance contradicts the values of modesty that many communities uphold and shifts focus away from the students’ academic achievement.
In Katsina, parents pointed out that the ceremonies are being modeled after university convocations, even at nursery and primary school levels. They questioned why children as young as five or six should be involved in such expensive programs, insisting that parents should be allowed to celebrate their children privately at home without being compelled to join school-organized festivities.
Religious leaders have also joined the debate, urging schools to redirect funds and energy toward improving infrastructure, teaching materials, and teacher welfare rather than social events. They stressed that children would benefit more from investments in education quality than from ceremonies that often last just a few hours.
Some parents further warned that the pressure to participate in these events may push struggling households into debt. With rising food prices, high school fees, and widespread unemployment in the region, they argued that forcing families to pay for unnecessary celebrations only worsens the financial strain.
Calls have now been made to state governments and education boards in Kaduna, Kano, and Katsina to intervene by issuing regulations or outright bans on graduation ceremonies at lower levels of education. Parents say government action is necessary to stop the commercialization of school activities and protect vulnerable families from exploitation.
While some educators defend graduation events as a way of motivating students and recognizing their progress, critics insist that such recognition can be done in modest ways without imposing costs on parents. They argue that schools should explore alternatives such as simple classroom presentations or end-of-year reports that achieve the same purpose without the financial and cultural excesses currently observed.
The debate reflects a broader concern about the rising cost of education in Nigeria and the tension between tradition, modernity, and economic reality. For many parents in northern Nigeria, the issue of graduation ceremonies is now symbolic of the wider struggle to ensure that education remains affordable, inclusive, and focused on its true purpose.
