Despite an official ban placed on the controversial ‘sign-out’ tradition by the management of the Kwara State Polytechnic, some graduating students of the institution have continued to engage in the act.

The situation has prompted fresh moves by the school authorities to deepen collaboration with security agencies.

The sign-out practice, once a celebratory ritual among final-year students involving branded shirts, graffiti, and processions, has increasingly come under scrutiny for its association with unruly behaviour and criminal infiltration.

The management banned the activity during the 2022/2023 academic session, citing security threats and abuse of the tradition.

In a renewed effort to stamp out the practice and address broader security concerns, the Rector of the institution, Engr. Dr. Abdul Jimoh Mohammed, on Friday, led principal officers of the Polytechnic on a courtesy visit to the Commissioner of Police, Kwara State Command, CP Adekimi Ojo.

During the visit, the Rector expressed deep concern over the persistent disregard for the sign-out ban, noting that students found engaging in the act on campus would face disciplinary measures.

He further stressed that those participating off-campus would bear full responsibility for any fallout.

He said the sign-out gatherings have increasingly become a cover for criminal elements to infiltrate student spaces, posing risks not only to the institution but also to the wider Ilorin community.

Engr. Abdul called for stronger police presence and support in tackling related issues such as cultism, land encroachment, and other threats to campus safety.

The Rector reiterated the Polytechnic’s commitment to producing responsible graduates and warned against allowing academic celebrations to devolve into avenues for lawlessness.

In his response, CP Adekimi Ojo commended the institution for its proactive approach to campus security and restated the command’s readiness to collaborate in curbing crimes around tertiary institutions.

He called for a united front among institutions in the state to develop clear-cut policies and deterrent measures aimed at preserving a safe learning environment.

Both parties agreed to deepen cooperation, share intelligence, and jointly monitor areas prone to abuse, as part of wider efforts to restore order and uphold discipline within the institution and its surrounding communities. (Daily Trust)