The Federal Government has approved a new policy prohibiting recipients of honorary degrees from using the title “Doctor,” in a move aimed at restoring integrity within Nigeria’s academic system.
The decision, endorsed by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), introduces a regulatory framework to guide the award and usage of honorary degrees by tertiary institutions, with sanctions outlined for defaulters.
Speaking on Wednesday in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, said the policy became necessary following growing concerns over the misuse and politicisation of honorary doctorates.
He explained that the reform is designed to safeguard academic standards, restore public confidence in university awards, and curb the increasing commercialisation of honorary degrees.
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According to him, the government observed a “troubling trend” where some universities confer honorary doctorates indiscriminately, including on serving public officials, with recipients subsequently adopting the “Dr” title 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.
Alausa warned that misrepresenting honorary degrees as academic credentials would henceforth be treated as academic fraud, attracting both legal and reputational consequences.
The minister further stated that only universities with established doctoral (PhD) programmes would be permitted to confer honorary degrees, describing the practice by institutions without such capacity as a “misnomer.”
He noted that the policy reinforces the Keffi Declaration, developed by the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, to address abuses associated with honorary awards.
On enforcement, Alausa disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Education, through the National Universities Commission (NUC), would issue detailed 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 added.
Responding to concerns over university autonomy, the minister emphasized that institutional independence must operate within the confines of the law.
“Autonomy does not equate to the right to break the law in this country,” he reiterated.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Ahmad, said the Keffi Declaration, though previously developed by vice-chancellors, lacked legal backing.
She noted that the new federal approval now provides the declaration with “authoritative backing” for proper implementation.
Meanwhile, FEC also approved the establishment of a national research and innovation development fund aimed at strengthening coordination across Nigeria’s research ecosystem and aligning investments with national development priorities.
The minister reiterated the government’s commitment to resuscitate credibility in the nation’s education sector through strict enforcement of standards and accountability measures.
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