The Federal Government has approved a new policy prohibiting recipients of honorary degrees from using the title “Dr,” as part of efforts to protect academic standards and regulate the award of honorary degrees in Nigerian tertiary institutions.
The decision was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and introduces a fresh regulatory framework for the conferment and usage of honorary degrees, including sanctions for violations.
Speaking on Wednesday in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, said the policy became necessary due to growing concerns over the misuse and politicisation of honorary doctorate awards.
According to him, the reform is aimed at preserving academic integrity, rebuilding public trust in university awards, and addressing the increasing commercialisation and abuse associated with honorary degrees.
He noted that the government had observed a “troubling trend” where some universities award honorary doctorates indiscriminately, including to serving public officials, while some recipients adopt the title “Doctor” in official and public engagements.
“Recipients are expected to acknowledge the degree as an award or recognition and not as a formal academic qualification,” he said.
The minister warned that presenting honorary degrees as academic credentials would amount to academic fraud and could attract legal and reputational consequences.
Alausa further stated that only universities with recognised PhD-awarding programmes would be allowed to confer honorary degrees, describing the practice by institutions without doctoral programmes as a “misnomer.”
He added that the new policy strengthens the Keffi Declaration developed by the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities to curb the abuse of honorary degree awards.
On enforcement, the minister explained that the Federal Ministry of Education, through the National Universities Commission (NUC), would issue operational guidelines, monitor convocation ceremonies, and publish an annual list of legitimate honorary degree recipients.
“We will collaborate with the media to discourage the improper attribution of academic titles to people who were awarded honorary degrees,” he said.
Responding to concerns about university autonomy, Alausa maintained that institutions must still operate within the law.
“Autonomy does not equate to the right to break the law in this country,” the minister added.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Ahmad, explained that the Keffi Declaration was originally introduced by vice-chancellors as a guideline but lacked legal backing.
She said the latest federal approval now gives the declaration “authoritative backing” and enables proper implementation nationwide.
FEC also approved the creation of a national research and innovation development fund aimed at improving coordination within Nigeria’s research ecosystem and aligning investments with national development priorities.
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