…Politicians’ bad behaviour influencing citizens
In recent years, graduation ceremonies, once solemn milestones marking the end of academic journeys, have taken on a dramatically different turn in many schools.
What were once dignified celebrations have increasingly developed into chaotic parties, raising concerns among educators and parents alike.
The rise of wild graduation festivities appears to reflect a troubling shift in societal values, prompting questions about discipline, respect, and the true meaning of achievement.
Many say that Nigeria must focus on what really matters, providing children with good future and education, not launching them into immoral lifestyles in the name of wild parties.
The elaborate show-offs where pupils leaving nursery, primary and secondary education are being brought to the event venues in SUVs and dressed in expensive attires in the name of graduation is overkill.
Some were recently captured spraying dollars on their girlfriends.
These young people have never worked in their life. Their rich parents are using them to showcase their wealth. What has become a culture nowadays is breeding bad behaviour.
The Edo State government has just banned graduation ceremonies up to secondary level.
Similarly, Imo State government recently banned graduation ceremonies for kindergarten, nursery, and junior secondary school 3 (JSS3) students, in a memo circulated to various education authorities in the state.
Gift Osikoya, a teacher in Lagos, explained that graduation ceremonies in nursery, primary, and secondary schools were originally meant to be a simple rite of passage, to mark progress, celebrate children’s efforts, and encourage them for the next stage of learning.
Unfortunately, she said that recently, the event has become mini “society parties,” where some parents use the event to showcase wealth, fashion, and status, which she described as a mark of lost purpose, inculcating negative impacts on children, and creating unnecessary burdens to parents who cannot afford it.
“Instead of focusing on children’s growth, values, and learning, the spotlight often shifts to parents’ financial display, expensive outfits, decorations, or lavish receptions.
“This sends the wrong message that worth is measured by wealth, not character or achievement. Besides, it creates unhealthy competition among children and parents. Some pupils begin to link success to ‘showing off’ rather than hard work,” she said.
Moreover, Osikoya disclosed that those children whose families cannot afford such expenses may feel inferior or excluded.
“Many average or struggling parents are pressured into spending money they don’t have, just to ‘keep up.’ This can breed resentment towards schools and even cause financial strain,” she noted.
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The educationist reiterated that such practices expose children to unhealthy values. “Instead of humility, discipline, and focus, children may learn extravagance, vanity, and materialism.
“The true values of education, knowledge, respect, resilience, community service, are overshadowed,” she emphasised.
She applauded Edo and Imo State governments for the efforts to curb these negative trends.
“By banning expensive graduation ceremonies, they want schools and parents to return focus to learning, mentorship, and affordable appreciation of children. Simpler events like prize-giving day, career talks, cultural day, or talent showcases could better celebrate children without unnecessary financial pressure,” she said.
Osikoya urged school owners and managements to embrace low-cost, value-driven, and child-centered graduations.
Hence, they could introduce activities such as community service, skills exhibition, or mentorship sessions rather than lavish parties.
“Schools should teach children that education is not about show, but about growth and impact,” she further said.
Friday Erhabor, director of media and strategies at Marklenez Limited, described the ostentatious graduation parties for minors noticeable in many Nigerian schools today as an extension of the debased culture of profligacy.
“If it was a mere prize giving ceremony, it would have been a bit okay. But they have turned everything into exhibition of status.
“This ‘pepper the poor’ kind of mindset or ‘me and you no dey the same category’ exhibition is condemnable,” he said.
Erhabor emphasised that school proprietors are exploiting parents, taking advantage of these egocentric behaviours of some well-to-do parents who are always in the quest to exhibit their status.
He also commended the Edo and Imo State governments’ action, which he said is worthy of emulation by other state.
Adekunle Oguntimehin, a parent, said that graduation in nursery, primary and secondary school has its advantages and disadvantages depending on the prism lens, one is looking at it from.
“Take for instance during graduation, awards are given to some best graduating pupils or students in certain subject.
“This may serve as the oil that will lubricate or shape further excellent performance in the subject by the pupils and also act as the fulcrum that will engender or foster healthy rivalry among them and the output is always top-notch performance,” he said.
However, Oguntimehin noted that this can be an additional burden on parents, who are forced to part with certain amount of money, which sometimes is beyond their budget.
“The burden of this ostentatious ceremony is an uncalled-for burden on low-income parents who are struggling with the financial crunches biting hard on the citizens,” he said.
He added that “The irony is that some parents who cannot afford what it takes to hosts such ostentatious parties, are overstressed, because it is an added levy to the astronomical school fees.”
A trained Sociologist, who pleaded anonymity, blamed the political class in Nigeria for the moral laxity in society, saying that politicians are introducing so many bad behaviours in society that erode the values the people used to hold very dear.
“The flaunting of wealth in our society – at ceremonies, even events in religious circles- it is as if people are in competition. It makes those who cannot afford such things to think they were unfortunate. It is this bad behaviour that has led to cutting of corners, massive corruption in examination and other bizarre things going on. The children see what the political class they call leaders are doing with public money; how they bulldoze their way into power through forgery and election rigging; so, the message they pass is that the end justifies the means. We must all condemn the high-level moral laxity in society,” the sociologist said.
