Extra school charges increase financial pressure on Nigerian parents.
Parents across several Nigerian states have expressed concern over additional charges imposed by some private schools, saying payments for graduation ceremonies, textbooks, costumes and other activities are increasing the cost of educating their children.
A report published on Thursday, October 22, highlighted complaints from parents in Lagos, Abuja, Kaduna, Katsina and Benue State about expenses they say go beyond regular school fees.
The additional charges reportedly include graduation ceremonies, end-of-year parties, photographs, refreshments, extracurricular activities and clothing for school performances.
One parent in Abuja reportedly said she was charged nearly ₦100,000 for graduation ceremonies involving her three children at different levels of education.
In Lagos, another parent reportedly paid ₦45,000 for a child’s graduation ceremony, with an additional ₦154,000 spent on preparing the child for a performance.
Some parents said that although certain payments were described as voluntary, children whose families did not pay could miss out on refreshments or participation in celebrations.
The complaints have renewed concerns about the financial burden placed on families, particularly those with multiple school-age children who must meet several educational expenses at the same time.
The Federal Government announced restrictions on graduation ceremonies in January, limiting them to Primary Six, Junior Secondary School Three and Senior Secondary School Three.
It also introduced a textbook reuse policy intended to encourage the use of educational materials over several school years.
In Ogun State, the government had also prohibited graduation ceremonies for kindergarten, preparatory and other non-graduating classes, directing that permitted ceremonies should not impose financial costs on parents.
Despite these measures, parents continue to raise concerns about additional school expenses and requirements by some institutions that textbooks be purchased through the schools.
Some school administrators have reportedly defended the use of designated textbooks on the grounds that students need to use the same educational materials.
Graduation expenses have also been attributed to costs such as venue hire, refreshments, souvenirs and cultural programmes.
The situation has raised questions about how effectively existing restrictions are being enforced and whether parents have sufficient avenues to report compulsory charges.
As the cost of education continues to place pressure on household budgets, calls for greater transparency in school billing and stronger enforcement of existing regulations are likely to remain part of the discussion.
Asake’s custom Levi’s tour outfit features over 100,000 rhinestones
By Nimah Alabi
Nigerian singer, Asake, is making a statement with a custom Levi’s outfit embellished with more than 100,000 rhinestones for his In God We Trust World Tour.
The design takes classic denim and gives it a striking makeover, with thousands of sparkling stones adding detail to the outfit.
The scale of the embellishment sets the piece apart from everyday denim, turning it into a standout look for the stage.
The outfit also highlights the craftsmanship that goes into creating custom performance clothing, where familiar fashion pieces can be reworked to match an artist’s image and stage presence.
Asake wore the outfit during his In God We Trust tour, which brought him to London’s O2 Arena on October 15, 2026.
With more than 100,000 rhinestones, the custom look puts denim craftsmanship in the spotlight and adds another memorable fashion moment to Asake’s tour.
