By Onilede Titi Faith
The management of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, has banned the popular “signing off” ritual among final-year students, citing chaos, violence, and disruption of academic activities.
In a statement issued Tuesday and signed by the Registrar, Dr. Chinenye Okeke, the university said the ban takes immediate effect.
“The university management wishes to inform you that, effective immediately, all forms of orchestration (‘signing off’) related to final examinations by final-year students are completely and indefinitely banned from the university premises,” the statement read.
Okeke noted that the exercise had become a threat to safety and security, often drawing in unauthorised individuals who cause disorder on campus.
She warned that any student caught engaging in the ritual would face severe disciplinary action, including possible rustication, while outsiders found disrupting the peace would be arrested and prosecuted.
Reassuring the university community, the Registrar stressed that UNIZIK remains committed to a safe and secure learning environment and urged students to focus on their academic responsibilities while reporting any misconduct to the authorities.