‎Yusuf AbdulFatah

‎ The Oyo State Government has announced an official ban on the popular “sign-out” tradition among graduating secondary school students in both public and private institutions across the state.

‎The decision, made public on Friday, follows concerns over the excesses that now accompany the common practice of final-year students signing farewell notes on classmates’ shirts. In recent years, “sign-out” activities have been linked to unruly behavior, public disturbances, and safety threats on the streets of Ibadan and other parts of the state.
‎Government officials explained that the ban became necessary after repeated reports of misconduct, including premature sexual exposure, destruction of school and public property during the celebrations.

“Education is not only about academics, but also about discipline and values. What was meant to be a harmless farewell tradition has turned into disorder. We cannot compromise public safety and the dignity of our schools,” a senior official in the Ministry of Education stated.

‎For now, Oyo State joins the growing list of states in Nigeria taking steps to curtail excesses associated with student celebrations, in what appears to be part of a wider call for discipline and reform in the nation’s education sector.