The Federal Government has rolled out stringent new guidelines regulating the award and use of honorary doctorate degrees in Nigeria, barring recipients from using the title “Dr.” and warning universities against the abuse and commercialization of honorary awards.
Announcing the policy on June 1, 2026, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, said the new framework was designed to restore credibility, transparency and academic integrity within the nation’s university system.
According to the minister, the guidelines were developed by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and subsequently approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in response to growing concerns over the indiscriminate conferment and misuse of honorary doctorate degrees.
“The policy addresses concerns over abuse, commercialization, and misuse of honorary awards,” Alausa stated.
Under the new regulations, only universities that have successfully graduated their first set of PhD students will be eligible to confer honorary doctorate degrees. Institutions are also restricted to a maximum of three honorary awards per convocation ceremony.
The minister explained that all honorary doctorate degrees must clearly bear the designation Honoris Causa, while recipients are expressly prohibited from adopting the academic title “Dr.” on the strength of such awards.
To ensure compliance, the guidelines establish a robust oversight framework, including the creation of a Special Fraud Unit within the NUC to monitor and investigate violations.
Universities are further required to publicly disclose the identities of honorary degree recipients, provide proper orientation on the limitations of the awards, and implement procedures for the withdrawal of honours where necessary.
Alausa stressed that the Federal Government would enforce the policy rigorously to protect the integrity of Nigeria’s higher education system.
The government also warned that institutions found violating the guidelines could face severe sanctions, including the suspension of accreditation exercises and the dissolution of governing councils.
“The Federal Government directed strict compliance,” the minister said, emphasizing that the reforms are aimed at preserving the value and prestige of honorary academic distinctions in Nigeria.
The announcement was contained in a statement issued by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo.
