The federal government has approved a new policy prohibiting recipients of honorary doctorate degrees from using the “Dr” title, in a move aimed at curbing abuse and restoring academic integrity in Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
The decision was endorsed by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) alongside a new regulatory framework that will govern the award and use of honorary degrees, with sanctions outlined for violations.
Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, said the policy responds to growing concerns over the misuse and politicisation of honorary doctorates.
Alausa explained that the reform is intended to protect the credibility of academic awards and address what he described as increasing abuse of honorary titles.
“Recipients are expected to acknowledge the degree as an award or recognition and not as a formal academic qualification,” he said.
He warned that anyone who misrepresents an honorary doctorate as an academic qualification would be treated as engaging in academic fraud, with possible legal and reputational consequences.
According to him, only universities with established PhD-awarding programmes will be allowed to confer honorary degrees, describing the practice of institutions without doctoral structures issuing such awards as improper.
The minister also said the policy reinforces the Keffi Declaration developed by the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities to address irregularities in honorary degree awards.
On enforcement, Alausa said the National Universities Commission will issue 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.
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He further stressed that university autonomy does not override legal frameworks.
“Autonomy does not equate to the right to break the law in this country,” the minister added.
Also speaking, Minister of State for Education Suwaiba Ahmad said the Keffi Declaration, previously a non-binding guideline by vice-chancellors, now has legal backing for full implementation.
The FEC also approved the creation of a national research and innovation development fund aimed at improving coordination of research activities and aligning investments with national development goals.