Excel College responds to viral video of students drinking, smoking

Excel College responds to viral video of students drinking, smoking

Excel College, Ejigbo, has issued a response to a viral
video showing former students drinking wine and smoking inside its hostel.

 

Following the video’s circulation in September, the Lagos
State Government, through the Ministries of Education and Youth & Social
Development, along with the Lagos State Police Command, launched an
investigation into the matter.

 

In a statement signed by the director, Dr. Dele Oke, and
released on Saturday, the school noted, “While we confirm that these incidents
happened in the school hostel, the facts are stated below.”

 

The institution explained that the first video was recorded
on May 11, when a parent visited with non-alcoholic wine and snacks to
celebrate her son’s final birthday in secondary school.

 

“A parent, who arrived about 7pm, pleaded to be granted
access to her son as it was his last birthday to be celebrated in Secondary
School. The parent brought non-alcoholic wine and snacks, and her phone was
used to make a recording of her son and his friends popping and drinking the
wine,” the statement read.

 

That video was later circulated in a class WhatsApp group.

 

The second clip, the school said, took place in April 2025
during Holiday Extension Classes for graduating SS3 students, when some were
caught experimenting with smoking in a game called “pass and puff.”

 

The college added, “While phones are banned in the school,
SS3 students in the hostel were permitted to intermittently have access to
their phones to check updates about their UTME centres.”

 

A concerned parent who came across the video reported it in
June, prompting the school to act. Both students and Housemasters were
questioned, leading to disciplinary action.

 

“Upon conclusion of this internal investigation, which
ascertained that indeed the incident occurred in the hostel premises, the
Housemasters were issued stringent warning letters for dereliction of duty and
forfeiture of their termly allowance,” the statement said.

 

The students involved were expelled from the hostel and
excluded from the 2025 graduation ceremony. However, they were later allowed to
sit for the NECO exams after expressing remorse and with parental undertakings.

The school stressed that preventive measures have since been
put in place, including relocating the SS3 reading room and increasing staff
oversight.

 

“Ahead of resumption for the 2025/2026 session, the
Management of Excel College made some structural changes within the hostels,
such as relocating the SS3 reading room to a more accessible and open area
within the hostel.

 

“Management also held several meetings with teachers, counsellors,
and particularly the Housemasters and mistresses to increase the frequency of
walk rounds, increase surveillance against bullying and peer pressure, ensure
strict adherence to visiting hours, and improve access to counselling
sessions,” the statement said.

 

On the ongoing investigation, the school assured that it is
cooperating with the authorities.

 

“All documentary evidence, including the expulsion and
warning letters issued to the students, has been submitted to the authorities.
The parents of the implicated ex-students, some of the ex-students themselves,
and representatives of the PTA Executives of Excel College have also been
available to provide clarity and further information as required to ensure full
transparency,” it added.

 

Dr. Oke concluded, “We acknowledge the concerns of Nigerians
in this matter and remain resolute in our commitment to maintain excellence
with integrity, both in words and actions.”

Source: Excel College responds to viral video of students drinking, smoking

 - NigerianEye
Invest in US dollars: https://hashflare.io/r/CF2F6691