The National Universities Commission (NUC) has issued a stern warning over the rising cases of indiscriminate conferment and misuse of honorary doctorate degrees in Nigeria's university system.In a public statement released on Thursday, the NUC expressed grave concern about this trend, stating that it undermines academic integrity and the credibility of Nigerian higher education.
To address the issue, the commission has approved comprehensive 16-point guidelines for the award and proper use of honorary doctorates. These guidelines align with the Education Act (National Minimum Standards and Establishment of Institutions), CAP E3, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (2004), and build on principles from the Keffi Declaration of 2012, signed by all vice-chancellors.
Key points from the guidelines include:
Only accredited public or private universities that have graduated at least one set of PhD students are eligible to confer honorary doctorates.
Honorary degrees are honorary distinctions recognizing exceptional contributions to society, public service, scholarship, or creativity, they are not equivalent to earned academic doctorates (such as PhDs).
Recipients must not use the title "Dr." in a way that implies an earned academic qualification; the title is reserved for those with earned doctorates or medical professionals.
The NUC emphasized that these rules aim to regulate the conferment process, preserve the sanctity of academic honors, and protect the global reputation of the Nigerian university system.
The commission directed all universities and degree-awarding institutions to strictly comply with the approved guidelines.
It warned that appropriate regulatory sanctions will be imposed on any institution found violating the rules, as well as on individuals who misuse honorary titles.
This latest move follows earlier NUC actions, including a committee investigation that uncovered 32 entities operating as "honorary degree mills"—including unaccredited foreign universities, unlicensed local institutions, and professional bodies without degree-awarding powers—and prior bans on awarding such degrees to serving public officials.
The statement comes amid ongoing efforts to curb the proliferation of fake or improperly awarded honorary titles in Nigeria.
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