Abuja: The Youths in International Trade and Commerce (OY-ITC), an NGO, has called on school authorities, especially private schools, and parents to prioritise students’ education to enhance their knowledge. Dr Chinedu Amadi, President of the NGO, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), highlighting the need for a shift in focus from social events like prom to educational and skill development.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Amadi also emphasized the importance of equipping students with skills that empower them to be self-sufficient and promote a culture of continuous learning for professional development. He expressed concern over the growing trend among students who seem more interested in fashion and social standing at prom rather than their academic progress. Amadi urged for the instillation of values such as discipline, moderation, and a long-term focus.
He noted that the celebration of prom, traditionally a Western concept tied to high school graduation, has become deeply embedded in Nigeria’s educational landscape, complete with ball gowns, tuxedos, rented limousines, red carpet events, and lavish photography sessions. While acknowledging the seemingly harmless nature of this tradition, he questioned its relevance to the needs of children and society.
Amadi remarked that parents often feel pressured to spend beyond their means to meet the unrealistic expectations set by schools and peers, which fosters materialism rather than instilling essential values. He called on school authorities, parents, guidance counselors, and policymakers to reflect on this growing trend and ensure that the emphasis in the education system remains on knowledge acquisition, moral development, and skill-building.
He suggested that transition periods, such as the end of secondary school, should be moments of reflection, focus, and preparation for the next academic phase, typically university or other forms of tertiary education. Instead, there is an increasing focus on prom fashion, luxury spending, and social media validation, often overshadowing examination results, university admission requirements, or skill development.
Amadi also expressed concern over the emergence of “graduation proms” for nursery and primary school children, where young children are dressed in formal attire and subjected to adult-like behavior for photos and videos. This trend, he argued, prematurely exposes children to consumerist and superficial social pressures.
He advocated for a shift in how learning milestones are celebrated, suggesting that if prom-style celebrations must occur, they should be age-appropriate, simplified, and budget-friendly. Amadi stressed that a child’s success should be measured by the quality of education, discipline, and purpose with which they leave school, rather than the extravagance of their prom.
Amadi concluded by highlighting the educational challenges in Nigeria, from underfunded public schools to examination malpractice and declining academic standards. In such a context, the focus on prom is not only misplaced but potentially harmful, risking the creation of a generation more focused on vanity than value. He called for a redefinition of the culture of celebration to emphasize excellence, character, and hard work over fashion and fanfare.
