Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, Edo State, has cancelled the final-year examination of its Microbiology college students over alleged violations of the establishment’s guidelines on post-examination celebrations.
The college is directing affected college students to retake the examination within the 2026/2027 educational session after fee of faculty charges.
The resolution, which may delay the commencement of the affected college students, has sparked criticism on Facebook, with some commenters questioning whether or not college students who didn’t take part within the celebrations ought to face the identical punishment.
In a letter dated 15 October 2026, the college’s Registrar, by way of the Senate Services Division, knowledgeable the Head of the Department of Microbiology of the cancellation of the MCB 414 examination.
Titled “Cancellation of MCB 414 Examination,” it acknowledged that the college’s Senate ratified the Vice-Chancellor’s approval to cancel the examination at its 335th common assembly held on 23 September 2026.
“Senate at its 335th regular meeting held on Wednesday, 23 September 2026 ratified the Vice-Chancellor’s approval for the cancellation of the MCB 414 Examination as the result of the violation of the Senate’s extant rule on wild jubilation by final year students of the Department of Microbiology,” the letter acknowledged.
It added that the affected college students must retake the examination within the subsequent educational session after paying their college charges.
The memo was signed by F.O. Omoigui, Deputy Registrar (Senate), for the registrar.
NANS president criticises resolution
Akinteye Babatunde, the president of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), posted a replica of the letter on Wednesday on Facebook, criticising the college’s resolution.
In his accompanying put up, Mr Babatunde described the punishment as extreme and questioned the potential penalties for the affected college students.
“Dear Ambrose Alli University Vice-Chancellor, Ekpoma, Edo State. This is probably the most hilarious and inhumane judgment I’ve ever seen.
“Setting over 300 students on the path of an extra year is not acceptable.”
The put up generated divergent reactions, with some commenters questioning the equity of imposing a collective punishment on college students who might not have participated within the alleged misconduct.
Philip Omon, one of many commenters, questioned whether or not the college had thought of the circumstances of scholars who didn’t take part within the celebrations.
“In all this, what is the consideration for those students who didn’t participate in the said wild jubilation, even if it’s one student? Should all suffer because of some? Ditto for outright cancellation of an entire centre’s result due to reported cases of widespread cheating. What about one or two in that centre who didn’t cheat? Some things need to be looked into more critically to reach alternative decisions that would always safeguard the innocent in any given circumstance.”
Another commenter, Mohammed Garbadeen, described the punishment as extreme, suggesting that the college may cancel the examination however permit the scholars to retake it instantly.
“I think this is quite extreme. Cancellation, yes, but also allow them to write it immediately so they can graduate. However, celebrating before seeing the results of your examination would never make sense to me. It’s not impossible that those celebrating would even have carryover in that same course. Why not see that you’ve passed all your courses and then celebrate.”
University defends resolution
When contacted, Mike Aladenika, the college spokesperson, defended the choice, saying the affected college students violated an present college rule that prescribes sanctions for wild celebrations after ultimate examinations.
“We issued that directive,” he mentioned, including that college students had repeatedly engaged in wild celebrations that disrupted public order.
“Whenever they are writing their final paper, they hold the university to ransom with their wild celebration,” he mentioned.
Mr Aladenika mentioned the college launched the rule about three years in the past following incidents wherein college students engaged in reckless celebrations, leading to accidents and visitors congestion.
He defined that the college subsequently directed that examinations of departments whose college students engaged in wild jubilation after their ultimate papers could be cancelled.
“That was about three years ago. At that time, two or three courses were cancelled,” he mentioned.
“Some students, after finishing examinations, would hire up to three vehicles and sit on top of the vehicles and begin to drive recklessly outside the campus, causing holdups along the road,” he mentioned.
Mr Aladenika added that administration had warned college students that the rule remained in pressure and could be enforced towards anybody who violated it.
“They went ahead and did it,” he mentioned, forcing the administration to implement sanctions.
A lecturer on the college, who requested anonymity as a result of he was not authorised to talk publicly, additionally confirmed that the affected college students violated the establishment’s guidelines towards wild celebrations.
“They engaged in wild jubilation, causing hold up on the road with some involved in accidents,” the lecturer mentioned.
Other establishments prohibit sign-out celebrations
The controversy comes amid rising efforts by tertiary establishments throughout Nigeria to control or prohibit post-examination celebrations, popularly often known as “sign-out” or “sign-off” ceremonies.
The celebrations, which generally contain final-year college students signing each other’s shirts, taking images and organising gatherings after their ultimate examinations, have attracted criticism from college directors over allegations of disorderly conduct, reckless driving and threats to public security.
In August 2025, PREMIUM TIMES reported that Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, banned sign-off ceremonies indefinitely following issues about violence, disruption of college actions and safety dangers. The establishment warned that college students who violated the directive may face disciplinary motion, together with attainable rustication.
In July, PREMIUM TIMES reported that Akwa Ibom State College of Education, Afaha Nsit, prohibited sign-out celebrations, warning that college students who violated the directive risked being denied commencement clearance. The resolution adopted a decision by the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly urging academic establishments to ban unruly and unregulated celebrations.
While college authorities have cited security issues and the necessity to preserve order, the choice by Ambrose Alli University to cancel an examination and postpone its retake till the following educational session has raised questions concerning the proportionality of sanctions for collective misconduct.
The college has maintained that its rule was established to stop harmful celebrations and that college students have been warned earlier than the incident.
However, the reactions to the choice spotlight issues about how establishments can implement disciplinary guidelines whereas making certain that sanctions are truthful to college students who might not have participated within the alleged violations.
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