NOA Lauds Ban On Graduation Parties In Imo

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has praised the Imo State Government for banning extravagant graduation parties for pupils in nursery, primary, and junior secondary schools.

The agency described this policy as a ‘bold step toward instilling discipline and responsible value reorientation among young learners”.

Recall that the Imo State Government announced an immediate ban on graduation parties for kindergarten, nursery, and Junior Secondary School (JSS3) students.

This decision, the state said, aimed to reduce financial burdens on parents and redirect attention to the academic development of children.

The Commissioner for Education, Prof. Bernard Ikegwuoha, who disclosed this in a memo addressed to parents, guardians, and stakeholders in the state’s education sector, also ordered that schools must now adopt the approved list of textbooks and use them for a minimum of four years to enable siblings to reuse them.

He warned proprietors, especially in private and faith-based schools, against frequent changes, noting that the practice imposes financial strain on parents and undermines educational stability.

Speaking in a statement on Monday, the Director-General of NOA, Lanre Issa-Onilu, stated that the practice of organising lavish graduation ceremonies encourages a culture of waste, unrealistic expectations of instant reward, and places unnecessary financial pressure on parents.

“Early exposure to such extravagant celebrations distorts the values of hard work, humility and delayed gratification, which are critical for personal growth and national development,” he said.

In the statement signed by NOA’s Director of Communication and Media, Bala Musa, the DG explained that the agency recently launched a campaign against “sign-out excesses” in schools, adding that the ban by the Imo State Government aligns perfectly with the objectives of that campaign.

Also speaking on the state’s directive to school proprietors to stop the yearly change of textbooks, Issa-Onilu noted that the measure would ease financial burdens on families and make education more affordable and accessible.

He commended the policy that permits graduation ceremonies only for pupils completing Primary 6 and Senior Secondary School, in line with Nigeria’s 6-3-3-4 education system.

He urged other states to adopt similar measures, stressing that the move would create a more disciplined and value-driven educational environment.

“This policy strengthens the focus on academics rather than on unnecessary extravagance and ensures consistency with national education standards,” he added.

NOA Lauds Ban On Graduation Parties In Imo is first published on The Whistler Newspaper