Nigerian journalist, actor, and filmmaker Gbolahan Adetayo has called on the Federal and State Ministries of Education to curb the rising trend of frequent graduation ceremonies in schools, urging that such events be reserved for major academic milestones — Primary 6, Senior Secondary School 3 (SS3), and university final year.
In a statement, Adetayo lamented the growing culture of hosting elaborate graduation parties for minor class transitions, from crèche to secondary school, warning that the practice imposes unnecessary financial strain on families.
He noted that in past decades — particularly the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s — graduation ceremonies were held strictly for significant educational achievements, making them moments of genuine academic and cultural value.
“Parents are now expected to fund graduation celebrations at every level, covering costs for gowns, decorations, food, entertainment, and photography, even when the child is simply moving to the next class,” he said, adding that such commercialization risks eroding the meaning of real academic success.
Adetayo appealed to the Ministry of Education to issue clear policy guidelines restricting graduation ceremonies to key transition points. He also urged school administrators and stakeholders to focus more on promoting academic excellence rather than adding to parents’ financial burdens.
