The management of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, has announced a total ban on the popular “signing off” tradition among final-year students, citing growing violence, security threats, and disruptions to academic activities.
The decision, contained in a statement signed by the university registrar, Chinenye Okeke, on Thursday, takes immediate effect.
According to Okeke, the once-innocent tradition of students signing clothes and celebrating their final days on campus has “degenerated into unruly and dangerous gatherings,” often infiltrated by outsiders.
“The university emphasised that the ‘signing off’ practices have grown into unruly gatherings, sometimes resulting in disorderly conduct, threats to safety and property damage,” Okeke explained.
She added that management was deeply concerned about unauthorised individuals who frequently invade the campus during the celebrations, creating security risks for students, staff, and facilities.
As part of the crackdown, UNIZIK has warned that students caught engaging in the practice risk rustication (suspension or outright expulsion). It further stated that outsiders found on campus during such events would face arrest and prosecution for breach of peace.
UNIZIK’s decision aligns with measures already adopted by several other Nigerian universities, including the University of Benin (UNIBEN) and the University of Lagos (UNILAG), which have also moved to restrict or outrightly ban final-year “sign-out” celebrations.
In recent years, these events have been linked to gang fights, alcohol abuse, sexual harassment, and property damage. At UNIZIK itself, past celebrations have escalated into street processions that disrupted traffic, triggered violent confrontations, and attracted cult groups into the mix.
For example, in 2023, a signing-off parade at UNIZIK was dispersed by security operatives after students clashed with touts who had invaded the festivities around the Awka campus.
Education policy analyst, Dr. Olayinka Adebisi, told Stone Reporters News that while signing-off is a symbolic tradition, Nigerian campuses have failed to regulate it effectively.
“In other countries, graduating students mark their last days with well-structured ceremonies supervised by the university. In Nigeria, unfortunately, it has become an excuse for unruly behaviour and even criminal infiltration. The ban is harsh but necessary for now,” she said.
Security consultant, Retired Colonel Ibrahim Musa, also applauded the move, describing it as a preventive step against wider insecurity.
“Our universities are already battling cultism and off-campus violence. Allowing unsupervised mass gatherings is like opening the gates for chaos. The ban sends a clear message that safety comes first,” he noted.
While some UNIZIK students expressed disappointment, others acknowledged the dangers. A final-year student from the Faculty of Social Sciences, who spoke anonymously, said:
“We understand the management’s concerns, but this has been our tradition. Maybe instead of banning, the school could organise an official, controlled event for final-year students to celebrate safely.”
With this ban, UNIZIK joins a growing list of Nigerian institutions prioritising safety and discipline over tradition. While the move may disappoint graduating students hoping to end their academic journey with flair, it underscores a new reality in Nigerian universities — in an era of insecurity, student safety must come before celebration.
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