The National Universities Commission (NUC) has escalated its bid to curb the misuse of honorary doctorate degrees in Nigeria’s university system by issuing a stern warning to institutions that flout newly approved guidelines and threatening regulatory sanctions.
In a public notice released on Thursday through its official platforms, the Commission expressed grave concern over the rising cases of indiscriminate conferment and misuse of honorary doctorate honours — practices it said undermine academic integrity and damage the credibility of Nigerian universities at home and abroad.
NUC, led by Executive Secretary Prof. Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, unveiled a 16-point framework designed to regulate the award and use of honorary doctorates and ensure consistent standards across institutions. The move comes as part of efforts to strengthen transparency and enforce accountability in higher education.
The Commission warned that any university or individual found violating the approved guidelines will face sanctions under its regulatory powers. It also clarified that honorary doctorate degrees are not equivalent to earned academic qualifications, and holders are prohibited from using the title “Dr.” in ways that suggest an earned doctorate.
Key NUC Guidelines on Honorary Doctorate Awards
Below is the full list of conditions that universities must follow when awarding honorary doctorate degrees:
- Institutional eligibility: Only accredited public or private universities can confer honorary doctorates.
- Maturity requirement: Eligible universities must have graduated their first set of PhD students.
- Purpose of award: Degrees must recognise sustained contributions that reflect the values and mission of the institution.
- Transparent criteria: Selection criteria must be clear, published on the university’s official website, and ensure balanced representation by gender, race, nationality and discipline.
- Recipient eligibility: Self-nominations and serving elected or appointed public officials are excluded from consideration.
- Confidentiality: Nominee details are to be treated with confidentiality and only contacted after approval by statutory bodies.
- Nomination process: All nominations must be processed by the appropriate statutory committee.
- Approval: The University Senate and Governing Council must approve all nominations.
- Award cap: No more than three honorary doctorates may be conferred at any convocation.
- Nomenclature: Degrees must include the title Honoris Causa (e.g., LL.D. (h.c.)).
- Conferment: Awards are typically conferred in-person; virtual or posthumous conferment is permitted only in exceptional cases.
- No fee: Recipients should not pay any fee or make any payment in exchange for the award.
- Usage restrictions: Awardees may use designated honorary titles (e.g., D.Sc. (h.c.)) but must not use the prefix “Dr.” or leverage the award to practise as scholars, oversee academic units or supervise research.
- Orientation: Universities must provide written and verbal orientation on the proper use of awards.
- Public disclosure: Institutions must regularly publish names of honorary doctorate recipients on official websites.
- Revocation policy: Universities must have a formal mechanism to rescind awards if recipients are later convicted of fraud or engage in unethical conduct.
Prof. Ribadu said the guidelines align with longstanding academic traditions, including provisions of the Education (National Minimum Standards and Establishment of Institutions) Act and the Keffi Declaration of 2012, which many vice-chancellors endorsed.
The updated directive follows investigations that uncovered abuses — including “degree mills” and unaccredited entities issuing dubious awards — and underscores NUC’s resolve to protect the reputation of Nigeria’s universities and the value of legitimate academic recognition.
