By Douglas Princemola
The management of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State, has placed an indefinite ban on the popular “signing out” or “signing off” ceremony often observed by graduating students after their final examinations.
The announcement, made by the institution’s Registrar, Dr. Chinenye Okeke, takes immediate effect. The decision, she explained, followed recurring incidents of violence, chaos, and security breaches linked to the celebrations in recent years.
The signing-out ceremony, which usually involves students wearing white shirts signed by friends and classmates, has increasingly become an avenue for rowdy gatherings, lawlessness, and disruptions of academic activities. University officials also raised concerns about unauthorized individuals infiltrating the campus during the events, creating serious security risks for both students and staff.
Dr. Okeke warned that any student found engaging in or organizing the outlawed ceremony would face severe disciplinary action, which could include suspension, rustication, or outright expulsion. She added that outsiders who attempt to join or encourage the banned activity on campus risk being arrested and prosecuted for disturbance of public peace.
The university urged its students to channel their energy into academic pursuits and constructive extracurricular engagements rather than activities capable of endangering lives or tarnishing the institution’s reputation. It also called on students to promptly report any misconduct or attempts to flout the directive to the appropriate authorities for immediate intervention.
