The Federal Government has approved sweeping new guidelines regulating the award and use of honorary doctorate degrees in Nigerian universities, including a ban on recipients using the title “Dr.” and strict sanctions for institutions that violate the rules.
The Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, announced the policy in a communication to vice-chancellors and pro-chancellors nationwide, describing it as a major step toward restoring the integrity, credibility and international reputation of the Nigerian university system.
According to the minister, the guidelines were developed by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and approved by the Federal Ministry of Education following endorsement by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
Alausa said the reforms were necessitated by growing concerns over the abuse, commercialization and misuse of honorary doctorate awards, which have increasingly diminished the prestige associated with academic honours.
“The policy became necessary in response to growing concerns over the abuse, commercialization and misuse of honorary doctorate awards, which have increasingly undermined the prestige and value of academic honours in Nigeria,” the minister said.
He added that the new framework “establishes clear standards for the nomination, approval, conferment, use and revocation of honorary doctorate degrees across all Nigerian universities.”
Under the new framework, only approved universities that have graduated their first set of PhD students will be eligible to confer honorary doctorate degrees. Universities will also be restricted to awarding a maximum of three honorary doctorates during each convocation ceremony.
The guidelines further stipulate that all honorary degrees must carry the designation Honoris Causa and that recipients may only use the approved nomenclature after their names, such as Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) or D.Sc. (h.c.).
However, recipients are expressly prohibited from using the title “Dr.”, which the government says is reserved for holders of earned doctoral degrees and medical qualifications.
“Recipients must refrain from using the title ‘Dr.’, which is reserved for holders of earned doctoral and medical degrees,” the guidelines stated.
The policy also bars serving elected and appointed public officials from receiving honorary doctorate awards and prohibits recipients from using honorary degrees to practice as scholars or professionals, supervise research, or oversee academic units.
To strengthen oversight, all nominations must be vetted by university statutory committees, approved by university senates and governing councils, and subsequently cleared by the NUC in collaboration with a Special Fraud Unit to be established within the commission.
The minister said the guidelines are intended to ensure that honorary degrees are conferred strictly on deserving individuals whose achievements reflect the values and mission of the awarding institutions.
“The purpose of the award shall be to recognize exceptional and sustained contribution, reflect institutional values, and ensure diversity,” the document stated.
Universities are required to publish the names of honorary doctorate recipients on their official websites and provide both written and verbal orientation on the appropriate use of the awards.
The guidelines also mandate institutions to establish formal mechanisms for revoking honorary doctorates where recipients are convicted of fraud or engage in conduct inconsistent with the values of the awarding institution.
In a significant enforcement measure, the Federal Government directed the Inspector-General of Police to establish a Special Fraud Unit at the NUC, headed by a senior police officer on secondment, to monitor compliance and prosecute violators.
Universities found to have breached the regulations risk severe penalties, including suspension of resource verification for two years, suspension of programme accreditation after three academic sessions from the year of violation, and possible dissolution of their governing councils upon recommendation by the Federal Ministry of Education.
“The Federal Government hereby directs strict compliance with these Guidelines by all universities and relevant stakeholders,” Alausa said.
He added that the measures are aimed at safeguarding “the credibility, integrity and international reputation of the Nigerian University System” and ensuring that honorary doctorate degrees remain prestigious recognitions reserved for individuals who have made exceptional contributions to society.