NUC Prohibits Honorary Doctorates for Current Public Officials

The National Universities Commission has implemented a ban on the conferment of honorary doctorate degrees to current public officials as part of a significant initiative to address the increasing misuse of such honors across the nation.

The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, announced this decision on Friday in Abuja while receiving the report from a committee that investigated the processes surrounding the awarding and utilization of honorary degrees throughout the country.

Ribadu expressed concern over the findings, stating that honorary degrees, which are intended to recognize exceptional service or achievement, have been increasingly misused. He noted that this issue has been exacerbated by the emergence of unaccredited and illegal institutions both within and outside Nigeria, which he referred to as degree mills.

He elaborated that the investigation uncovered widespread breaches of the Keffi Declaration of 2012, an agreement among Vice Chancellors of Nigerian universities aimed at regulating the awarding of honorary degrees. The declaration prohibits universities from honoring current public officials and advises recipients against using the title Dr without appropriate clarification.

“This is not solely an ethical issue; legally using the title Dr based on an honorary degree without proper disclosure constitutes false representation, which is punishable under various fraud-related laws in Nigeria,” he stated.

He cautioned that the misuse of honorary titles jeopardizes the integrity of universities and diminishes public confidence in legitimate academic qualifications.

The report indicated that 32 institutions were identified as operating as honorary degree mills. This includes 10 unaccredited foreign universities, four unlicensed local universities, 15 professional bodies without degree-awarding authority, and three other institutions that also issue fraudulent professorships.

Ribadu emphasized that only accredited public and private universities are legally authorized to confer honorary doctorate degrees. Furthermore, recipients must use the appropriate designation, such as Doctor of Literature Honoris Causa, instead of adopting the title Dr, which is reserved for those who hold earned doctorates and medical professionals.

He stated that the Commission will enhance enforcement measures to restore credibility to the higher education sector and ensure that honorary degrees continue to represent genuine honor.