In an emotionally charged and eye-opening appeal, renowned Nigerian journalist, actor, and filmmaker, Gbolahan Adetayo, has issued a public call to the Federal Ministry of Education and State Ministries of Education across Nigeria, urging them to urgently review and regulate the now-commercialized culture of graduation ceremonies in schools, particularly in nursery and primary institutions.
Reflecting on the good old days of the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s, Adetayo lamented the rapid shift from meaningful school send-offs to what he described as exploitative and unnecessary class-to-class graduations. According to him, graduation ceremonies were once reserved for Primary 6 pupils, SS3 students, and university graduates, a tradition that carried deep meaning and pride for both students and parents.
“In those days, graduations were about legacy, celebration of hard work, and a mark of academic progress. Parents were proud, schools organized modest but memorable ceremonies, and children were truly moving to another academic phase,” he wrote.
However, the current trend, Adetayo said, has turned graduations into an annual fundraising scheme by many private—and now even public—schools. He decried the disturbing development where children in Kindergarten 1 are being made to ‘graduate’ to Kindergarten 2 with ceremonies that demand heavy levies for gowns, decoration, food, entertainment, photo sessions, and more.
“This culture is not just ridiculous, it’s wicked. Parents are forced to pay for graduation parties every year, from crèche to the university. This cycle has driven many into debts, unnecessary stress, and in some tragic cases, pushed struggling single mothers into prostitution just to meet up with societal pressure,” he wrote.
Adetayo noted that what was once a beautiful celebration of achievement has now become a burden, with parents expected to throw parties, buy expensive outfits, and contribute to flamboyant events, only to resume in two weeks to pay for the next school term.
He emphasized that the current economic realities in Nigeria do not support such luxuries, especially when millions of families are struggling to survive.
“The Ministry of Education must rise to the occasion. This trend must stop. Let’s return to when graduation was a big deal, not a financial trap. I am calling on relevant authorities to make it mandatory that only Primary 6, SS3, and final-year University students should hold graduation ceremonies. Of course, I won’t go into the spiritual implications of this act for now, as it is a deep topic on its own, one that requires ample time to properly explain to many parents.”
He added that allowing every class to “graduate” diminishes the significance of true academic progress and sends the wrong message to children about the value of hard work and milestones.
Gbolahan Adetayo’s heartfelt message serves as a wake-up call to policymakers, education stakeholders, and school owners to stop commercializing education at the expense of innocent families.
He concluded with a final word to the Ministry:
“This is no longer just a school issue, it is a national concern. Our education system should uplift, not drain. I urge you to act now before this cultural cancer spreads beyond repair.”
