UNIPORT Don Warns Against False ‘Sign-Out’ Celebrations
Dr Ovunda Ihunwo, a lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), has cautioned parents and students about what he calls the “deceptive culture” surrounding sign-out celebrations, urging families to confirm academic status before joining in the festivities.
In many Nigerian universities, it has become tradition for final-year students to stage elaborate sign-out events—marked by loud music, flashy outfits, money spraying, and sometimes even parental involvement. But Dr Ihunwo pointed out that not every student who takes part in these jamborees has actually fulfilled graduation requirements.
“Some of those wearing customised shirts and parading themselves as graduates are yet to be cleared academically,” he warned. “Parents are often misled into celebrating prematurely, only to face disappointment later.”
According to him, the trend has grown beyond a simple farewell ritual among classmates into a show of status, driven by peer pressure, social media influence, and the quest for public validation. In some cases, students with outstanding carryovers, unpaid fees, or unresolved academic issues still stage lavish sign-outs to keep up appearances.
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He stressed that such displays create false impressions and leave parents embarrassed when the reality of their children’s academic records eventually comes to light.
Observers note that the once modest tradition has ballooned into an extravagant social trend, with families funding costly outings without confirming whether their wards are truly done with school.
Dr Ihunwo called on parents to demand proper proof of completion before endorsing such events, while reminding students that true graduation is measured by academic achievement, not just “shirts, markers, and noise.”
His comments have stirred mixed reactions within the UNIPORT community and beyond—while some agree that the culture has become excessive, others defend it as a symbolic rite of passage regardless of academic setbacks.
