The Federal Government has approved a new policy prohibiting recipients of honorary degrees from using the title “Dr,” introducing stricter regulations to guide the award and use of honorary doctorates by tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
The decision, approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), also establishes sanctions for institutions and individuals found violating the new framework.
Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday, Tunji Alausa, Minister of Education, said the policy became necessary due to growing concerns over the misuse and politicisation of honorary degrees.
According to the minister, the reform is aimed at protecting academic integrity, restoring public trust in university awards, and addressing what he described as the increasing abuse and commercialisation of honorary doctorates.
Alausa said the government had observed a “troubling trend” in which some universities confer honorary degrees indiscriminately, including on serving public officials, while recipients subsequently adopt the title “Doctor” in public and official engagements.
“Recipients are expected to acknowledge the degree as an award or recognition and not as a formal academic qualification,” he stated.
The minister warned that presenting honorary degrees as earned academic credentials would now be regarded as academic fraud, with possible legal and reputational consequences.
He further explained that only universities with established PhD-awarding programmes would be eligible to confer honorary doctorates, describing the practice by institutions without doctoral curricula as a “misnomer.”
Alausa added that the new policy strengthens the Keffi Declaration, developed by the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, which was designed to curb abuse in the conferment of honorary degrees.
On implementation, he said the National Universities Commission (NUC), under the supervision of the Ministry of Education, would issue operational 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.
Responding to concerns over university autonomy, Alausa insisted that institutions must still comply with national laws and regulations.
“Autonomy does not equate to the right to break the law in this country,” the minister added.
Also speaking, Suwaiba Ahmad, Minister of State for Education, noted that the Keffi Declaration had previously existed only as a guideline developed by vice-chancellors without legal backing.
She said the latest approval by FEC now gives the declaration “authoritative backing” and makes proper enforcement possible.
In addition to the honorary degree reforms, FEC also approved the establishment of a national research and innovation development fund aimed at improving coordination within Nigeria’s research ecosystem and aligning investments with national development priorities.
