FALSE
Viral WhatsApp messages claiming sudden changes to school resumption dates caused panic among Nigerian parents. The Federal Ministry of Education confirmed no such announcements were made. Dubawa and Africa Check traced the messages to unofficial sources with no government authorization. This pattern of education-related misinformation recurs each school term.
Throughout 2025, multiple waves of misinformation about Nigerian school resumption dates spread via WhatsApp, causing confusion for millions of parents. Messages claimed everything from extended holidays to immediate resumption, often citing fabricated government directives. The Federal Ministry of Education has repeatedly had to issue clarifications, noting that official school calendars are published through verified government channels only. Nigerian fact-checkers have identified this as a recurring pattern, with new fake messages emerging each academic term.
The Pattern
Before each school term in Nigeria, a predictable pattern emerges: viral messages claim sudden changes to official resumption dates [1].
In January 2025, messages claimed the Federal Government had extended Christmas holidays by two weeks due to security concerns. The Ministry of Education found no such directive [2].
How It Spreads
These messages typically first appear in parent WhatsApp groups, often formatted to look like official government statements with fabricated letterheads [9].
Dubawa tracked one fake message that reached an estimated 2 million users within 48 hours before being debunked [3].
Real-World Impact
Parents acting on fake information have arrived at schools on wrong dates, made unnecessary travel arrangements, or kept children home when schools were open [5].
Schools have reported attendance disruptions lasting days after viral misinformation spread [7].
Government Response
The Federal Ministry of Education has urged parents to verify information only through official channels and ignore viral messages [2].
State education boards have also issued warnings about the recurring problem [6].
Conclusion
False claims about Nigerian school resumption dates represent a recurring pattern of education misinformation. These messages have no official basis and are consistently debunked by fact-checkers. Parents are advised to verify school dates only through official Ministry of Education announcements and direct communication with schools.