UNIPORT Moves to Regulate Final Year ‘Sign-Out’ Tradition

The University of Port Harcourt has moved to regulate the popular “sign-out” tradition among final-year students, describing it as a “scourge” that requires urgent attention.

In a memorandum dated September 3, 2025, and signed by the Dean of Student Affairs, Prof. C.C. Wokocha, all Deans of Faculty and Heads of Departments were directed to submit the dates, times, and venues of the last examinations for final-year students in their respective faculties.

According to the notice, management representatives will be present at the identified venues to monitor the examinations and ensure compliance with university regulations. The memo stressed that the directive should be treated with urgency as the institution seeks to curb excesses associated with the sign-out culture.

“This is to inform you to kindly make available to the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs, the dates, time, and venues of all last exam papers of the final-year students in your Departments/Faculties. The Management of the University will be present at all the venues by the time and dates provided to us by you to monitor the exams. Kindly treat as urgent as we all together join hands in fighting this scourge called ‘sign out,’” the statement read.

The notice was copied to the Vice Chancellor, the Deputy Vice Chancellors (Administration, Academic, and Research & Development), as well as the Chief Security Officer, signaling the university’s firm stance on tightening control over the celebrations.

The move comes amid growing concerns that the sign-out culture, once seen as a harmless celebration, has increasingly been associated with disruptive behavior and misconduct within and outside the campus.