On August 19, 2025, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, has officially banned the traditional exam orchestration celebrations known as “signing off” for final-year students with immediate effect.
According report, the decision, announced on Tuesday, August 19, through a press release signed by the university’s Registrar, Dr. Chinenye Okeke, has caused an uproar.
The Ban: A Reaction to Violence and Chaos
UNIZIK’s management cited “chaos, violence, and disruption of normal university activities” as the primary reasons behind the ban.
The statement highlighted that “signing off” celebrations, once symbolic farewell events, now involve disruptive behavior and pose security threats.
Dr. Okeke’s release conveyed that all forms of signing off orchestration related to final examinations are now “completely and indefinitely banned” within the university premises.
This directive “responds to recurring incidents” involving unauthorized individuals infiltrating the campus, posing significant risks to both safety and order.
Security Concerns and Zero Tolerance
The university’s stance is clear and uncompromising.
Any students caught participating in or organizing these activities will face “severe disciplinary measures,” including the extreme sanction of rustication.
Equally, outsiders who enter the campus to support or incite disorder stand to be arrested and prosecuted for “disorderly conduct and breach of peace.”
UNIZIK’s authorities claim this decisive action protects the university’s mandate to maintain peace, safeguard lives, and ensure that academic operations proceed unhindered.
The Registrar, Dr. Okeke, stressed that this ban is part of the institution’s dedication to creating a safe academic environment where learning is paramount.
A Tradition in Crisis: When Celebration Turns Sour
The ban on signing off is not just about order; it’s a direct challenge to a longstanding cultural practice deeply embedded in student life at UNIZIK and many Nigerian tertiary institutions.
Final-year students have traditionally used signing off to mark the completion of their examination period an event often characterized by music, dance, gatherings, and symbolic ceremonies.
However, these celebrations have, over recent years, spiraled out of control.
The emergence of drunkenness, violent clashes among student groups, and massive disruptions to academic schedules has led to a reevaluation of the tradition’s place within the university ecosystem.
WahalaUpdate has observed that this tension between tradition and security reflects a broader struggle in Nigerian universities.
Balancing vibrant student culture with the growing necessity for institutional control and professionalism.
Have the Authorities Overreacted?
While the university insists the ban is necessary, critics argue the management’s reaction is heavy-handed and shortsighted.
Some students and faculty members have voiced concerns that the ban suppresses student expression and undermines morale.
One anonymous final-year student lamented, “Signing off isn’t just a party; it’s a way to relieve stress and feel a sense of closure.
Banning it outright without offering alternatives feels like punishment for all students because of a few bad actors.”
Others note that the university’s unilateral decision, especially its indefinite nature, may fuel underground orchestration events, which would be more difficult to monitor and control.
Experts on student affairs suggest the university could have considered regulated and supervised festivities instead of imposing a blanket ban.
Such measures could preserve the cultural heritage of signing off while ensuring security protocols are enforced.
The Role of Unauthorized Individuals: A Serious Threat?
A key justification from the university is the increasing presence of “unauthorized individuals” during signing off celebrations.
This claim highlights a critical and often overlooked issue: outsider involvement in campus matters, which escalates tensions and sometimes violence.
This raises broader questions about campus security policies, gatekeeping, and surveillance in Nigerian universities.
If outsiders can infiltrate university grounds so easily, it exposes institutional weaknesses in protecting students and staff.
Academic Focus and Responsibility
The Registrar’s statement closed with a clear call for students to “focus on their academic responsibilities” and report any instances of misconduct to university authorities.
This appeal aligns with the university’s message of discipline and accountability.
However, there is an underlying tension.
How can students balance academic pressure with the need for social cohesion and stress relief in an environment where expressive cultural celebrations are banned?
What This Means for UNIZIK Students and Nigerian Universities
This development serves as a case study for other Nigerian universities grappling with similar challenges in maintaining order without suffocating student culture.
It sparks a debate on whether Nigerian tertiary institutions are losing sight of students’ psychosocial needs in favor of rigid institutional control.
