The Federal government has approved a directive, banning recipients of honorary degrees from using the “Dr.” title, as part of a broader effort to tackle the misuse and monetization of academic honours.
The decision, ratified by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), introduces a new regulatory framework to guide the award and use of honorary degrees by tertiary institutions, with sanctions for violators.
Speaking on Wednesday in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, said the directive became necessary as a result of growing concerns over the increasing abuse and political interference of honorary doctorates.
According to Alausa, the reform is aimed at safeguarding academic integrity, restoring public confidence in university awards, and addressing what he described as a “troubling trend” of unchecked awarding of honorary degrees.
He noted that some universities have been awarding honorary doctorates to individuals, including serving public officials, who then go on to adopt the title “Doctor” in official and public settings.
“Recipients are expected to acknowledge the degree as an award or recognition and not as a formal academic qualification,” he said, warning that misrepresentation would be treated as academic fraud with legal and reputational consequences.
The minister also announced that only universities with established PhD-awarding programmes would be permitted to confer honorary degrees, describing the practice by institutions without such capacity as a “misnomer.”
As part of enforcement measures, Alausa said the Federal Ministry of Education, through the National Universities Commission (NUC), would issue guidelines, monitor convocation ceremonies, and publish an annual list of legitimate honorary degree recipients.
He added that the government would collaborate with the media to discourage the improper attribution of academic titles to honorary awardees.
Addressing concerns about university autonomy, Alausa stressed that institutions must operate within the law, stating that autonomy does not grant the right to violate established regulations.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Ahmad, said the policy strengthens the Keffi Declaration developed by the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, which previously lacked legal backing.
She noted that the federal approval now gives the declaration authoritative status, enabling proper implementation.
In a related development, the FEC also approved the establishment of a National Research and Innovation Development Fund to improve coordination across Nigeria’s research ecosystem and align investments with national development priorities.
Oluwagbemisola Babalola
