The National Universities Commission (NUC) has issued a strong directive against the misuse of honorary doctorate degrees, warning of sanctions against institutions and individuals who flout established guidelines.

Executive Secretary Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu announced findings from a probe into 61 institutions and bodies, identifying 32 “honorary doctorate degree mills” engaged in irregular practices. These include:

• 10 unaccredited foreign universities
• 4 unlicensed local institutions
• 15 professional bodies without degree-awarding powers
• 3 other non-degree-awarding entities

Some were also found to be awarding fake professorships.

Key directives issued by the NUC include:

• Honorary degree recipients are prohibited from using the prefix “Dr” before their names, which remains reserved for earned PhDs and medical doctors.
• Recipients may use the full honorary title (e.g., Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa)) but cannot practise as scholars, supervise research, or head academic or administrative units.
• Universities must cease conferring honorary degrees on serving public officers, in line with the 2012 Keffi Declaration.

Prof. Ribadu emphasized that only accredited Nigerian universities are authorized to award honorary degrees, stressing that strict enforcement is necessary to safeguard academic integrity.

The crackdown follows years of controversy over politicians, celebrities, and business leaders adopting the “Dr” title after receiving honorary awards, often from dubious institutions. The NUC’s move is intended to restore credibility to Nigeria’s higher education system and protect the value of earned academic qualifications.