The Federal Government has approved a new policy prohibiting recipients of honorary doctorate degrees from using the title “Dr.” as part of sweeping reforms aimed at restoring credibility and integrity to Nigeria’s university system.
The new guidelines, announced by the Federal Ministry of Education, form part of a comprehensive framework regulating the award and use of honorary doctorate degrees across the country.
Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, said the policy was developed by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and subsequently approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to address growing concerns over the abuse, commercialization, and misuse of honorary academic awards.
According to the ministry, all honorary doctorate degrees must now carry the designation “Honoris Causa,” while recipients are expressly prohibited from adopting or using the title “Dr.” based solely on such awards.
The government said the measure is intended to protect the distinction between earned academic qualifications and honorary recognitions granted by universities.
Under the new framework, only universities that have graduated their first set of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) students will be eligible to confer honorary doctorate degrees.
The guidelines also limit institutions to a maximum of three honorary doctorate awards per convocation ceremony in a bid to curb indiscriminate conferment of such honours.
To strengthen oversight and accountability, the policy establishes monitoring mechanisms, including a Special Fraud Unit under the National Universities Commission to ensure compliance by universities and award recipients.
Institutions are further required to publicly disclose the names of honorary degree recipients, provide orientation for awardees on the proper use of the honour, and implement procedures for revoking awards where necessary.
The Federal Government warned that universities found violating the guidelines could face sanctions, including suspension of accreditation activities and, in severe cases, the dissolution of governing councils.
According to the Ministry of Education, the reforms are designed to enhance transparency, uphold academic standards, and preserve the reputation of Nigerian universities both locally and internationally.
The government directed all universities to comply strictly with the new regulations as part of broader efforts to strengthen confidence in the nation’s higher education system.