Security Crackdown on Graduation Celebrations at University of Port Harcourt Sparks Controversy
Security personnel at the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) intercepted graduating students during unauthorized celebration activities, leading to a confrontation that was captured on video and shared widely on social media.
The incident, which occurred on Friday following final examinations, showed security officers, locally known as “VC boys,” escorting students to a Toyota Hilux pickup truck while some attempted to resist and others fled the scene.
The enforcement action came in response to students allegedly violating a recent ban on “signing off” ceremonies, a popular tradition among graduating students. According to a university staff member who requested anonymity, several vehicles were temporarily impounded during the operation.
UNIPORT spokesperson Sam Kpenu clarified that while no arrests were made, some students’ vehicles were briefly confiscated but later returned after the situation was resolved. “We have no reason to arrest anybody,” Kpenu stated, defending the university’s stance on prohibiting graduation celebrations.
The ban was officially announced in a memo dated October 2, 2025, signed by Professor Chima Wokocha, Dean of Student Affairs. The directive prohibited all sign-out activities, including the traditional signing of T-shirts near examination venues. The memo also specifically banned:
– Students arriving with security escorts
– Post-examination gatherings
– Photography of sign-out celebrations
– Parental presence at examination venues
Violators face referral to the Students Disciplinary Committee, while security personnel accompanying students risk arrest and transfer to the Rivers State Police Commissioner.
This move follows a broader trend of Nigerian institutions restricting graduation celebrations. Similar bans have been implemented at other institutions, including Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka in August 2025 and the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) Enugu State in October 2024. The IMT’s decision was prompted by a tragic incident where a celebrating graduate’s vehicle struck and killed a student during festivities.
The university administration maintains these measures are necessary to maintain order and prevent disruptions on campus, though the restrictions have sparked debate about traditional graduation practices in Nigerian higher education.
