Few days to the end of 2025/2026 academic year for both primary and secondary schools in Enugu state, private schools have snubbed state government directives, banning end of the academic year parties.
WITHIN NIGERIA findings showed that many of the private schools in the state are still collecting at least N5000 per pupils and students for the end of the session party slated to hold immediately after exams in middle July.
This is happening despite state government’s directive against such extortion and extravagant celebration by both private and public schools in the state.
Enugu government bans extravagant graduation
Following the growing backlash associated with graduation ceremony in both private and public schools across the state, the state government on July 2, reaffirmed his stance on ban on graduation ceremony in the state.
The Enugu State Ministry of Education issued Policy 0031 to curb the rising trend of extravagant graduation, end-of-session, Christmas, anniversary and similar ceremonies that place financial pressure on parents.
In a circular signed by the Honourable Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ndubueze Mbah, the Ministry reiterated that schools across the state must desist from imposing compulsory levies outside approved government charges for public schools.
According to the policy, only modest, academic transition certificate events for approved educational milestones will be permitted, warning that the ministry will deal heavily with the violators.
The policy however stated that graduation and other celebrations should not be turned into avenues for compulsory payments or elaborate, costly ceremonies.
“We remain committed to ensuring that every child receives quality education in an environment that prioritizes learning over unnecessary expenses,” the Commissioner stated in the directive.
Prof. Mbah called on proprietors, school leaders, teachers and parents to read the attached circular carefully and ensure immediate compliance. He added that the move is part of the state government’s broader effort to build an equitable, learner-centered education system in Enugu.
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that the policy comes amid growing complaints from parents who say end-of-term activities, repeated celebrations and non-academic levies have become a major financial strain for households.
With Policy 0031 now in force, the Ministry says it will monitor compliance to protect families from exploitative practices and refocus attention on core academic outcomes.
However, findings by our reporter showed that the warning had fallen on deaf ears as many private have continued to task parents to pay for the graduation and end of session parties for their children and wards.
Random visits to some private schools in Enugu state by our reporter revealed that some proprietors collect as much as N5000 per student or pupil as the case may be for the prohibited party or send off.
When our reporter visited a school in Nsukka (name withheld) the proprietor explained that the send off party will not be held openly but the gift items will be collected by the parents and guardians.
According to the school owner, ” there is no way the state government can outrightly ban school party at the end of session or during end of the year. The government should channel it’s energy on how this party was held by the schools.”
Explaining further, the proprietor who frowned at government’s directive stated that ” where else do government expect the students and the staff to interact informally if not for this kind of gathering? I don’t see anything wrong in organizing a get-together for the students.”
Another proprietor told our reporter that “there is no Nigerian law that prohibits holding of Christmas party or end of session party by both private and public schools.
“Our government is just using their power to axe private school proprietors so as to look for a loophole for their sanctioning.
“If the state suspects exploitation by some private school proprietors, they should devise a means of sanctioning them for such financial recklessness. Punishing all the schools in the state for the sin of negligible few is not fair at all.
” As a matter of fact, many private schools directors invite state education officials for their end of session or end of year party.”
Narrating the proprietor told WITHIN NIGERIA that “as it stands now, it is parents of these students that are at the receiving end. This is because they must pay the fee but will not have the party.”
Findings by our reporter showed that many states have also placed a ban on the graduation ceremonies by both private and public schools in their respective states.
States that have banned graduation ceremonies, parties in schools
Some of these states are Benue, Ondo, Osun, and Imo, where governments have moved to curb or regulate graduation-related ceremonies in basic and secondary education.
At the same time, the Ogun State Government has directed all public and private schools across the state to discontinue graduation ceremonies and end-of-session parties, citing concerns over alleged financial pressure on parents and guardians.
The directive was contained in a circular issued recently by A.A. Bisiriyu, director of education, on behalf of the ministry’s permanent secretary, and addressed to administrators of all public and private schools.
At the same time, the Kogi State Government also restated its ban on excessive graduation ceremonies in nursery, primary, and junior secondary schools, warning that defaulting schools risk closure.
The report added that the state also reaffirmed its prohibition of sign-out ceremonies by graduating undergraduates, with the Commissioner for Education, Wemi Jones, stating that the policy was introduced to reduce financial pressure on parents.
Delta state was also not left out in this restriction as state Government has reminded private school owners across the state of the outright ban on graduation parties and all associated end-of-session celebrations.
It maintained that any institution found flouting the directive will face severe penalties, including a potential five-year closure.
The Delta State Government announced in September 2025 a ban on lavish graduation parties in private schools, describing the trend as an “unnecessary financial burden” on families.
Other states include, Edo, Ondo, Ekiti, Kaduna, Niger, Ebonyi, Abia, Niger and Ebonyi.
