NIGERIA :NOA Hails Imo State’s Ban on Lavish Graduation Parties

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria 

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

In a statement signed by its Director of Communication and Media, Bala Musa, on Monday, the Agency described the move as a timely intervention to check excesses among young learners and relieve parents of unnecessary financial pressures.

The Director General of NOA, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, said such parties encourage a culture of extravagance, fuel unrealistic expectations, and undermine values of hard work, humility, and delayed gratification. He noted that the practice has become a socially unproductive trend that many parents are compelled to fund.

Issa-Onilu stated: “The policy aligns with our recent campaign against extreme ‘sign-out’ practices, which often distort the values needed for personal growth and national development.”

On the government’s directive stopping schools from changing textbooks annually, he commended the decision as one that will significantly ease financial burdens on parents and make education more affordable.

The NOA boss further noted that restricting graduation ceremonies to Primary 6 and Senior Secondary students reflects Nigeria’s 6-3-3-4 education system and ensures consistency with national standards.

He encouraged other states to adopt similar measures to promote a disciplined and value-driven education system that emphasises resilience, hard work, and academic focus.