BREAKING: FG Outlaws ‘Dr’ Title for Honorary Degree Holders, Warns of Fraud Sanctions
FG Outlaws ‘Dr’ Title for Honorary Degree Holders, Warns of Fraud Sanctions
The Federal Government has announced a ban on the use of the “Dr” title by individuals who hold honorary degrees, prohibiting its use in official, academic, and professional settings.
Authorities stated that adopting the title in such circumstances amounts to a false representation of academic qualifications and will now be treated as academic fraud, carrying both legal and reputational penalties.
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, made this known on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja while addressing State House correspondents. He spoke on two approvals granted by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) that were not disclosed after its April 30 meeting.
Alausa, who addressed the press alongside the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, explained that the council had approved a standardized policy guiding how honorary degrees are awarded and referenced by Nigerian universities.
According to him, the new directive aims to curb long-standing abuses in the system, including the politicisation and commercialization of honorary awards, while restoring credibility to academic distinctions.
He said, “The recent trend we’ve seen with the award of honorary degrees has revealed a growing abuse and politicisation of this academic privilege.
“We’ve seen awards being used for political patronage, for financial gain, as well as the conferral of awards on serving public officials, which, as part of the ethics of honorary degree awards, should not happen.”
Under the revised guidelines, beneficiaries of honorary degrees are no longer permitted to place “Dr” before their names. Instead, they are required to indicate the honorary nature of the award after their names.
Providing examples, the minister said, “For instance, you can use Chief Louis Clark, D.Lit. (Doctor of Literature, Honoris Causa)” or “Mrs Miriam Adamu, LL.D. Hons.”
Alausa said this format clearly reflects the honorary rather than earned academic nature of the award.
“Recipients shall not prefix doctor to their names in official, academic or professional usage,” the minister said, adding, “Misrepresentation of honorary degrees as earned academic credentials shall be considered academic fraud and subject to legal and reputational consequences.”
The policy also limits the categories of honorary degrees Nigerian universities can award to four: Doctor of Laws (LL.D), Doctor of Letters (D.Lit), Doctor of Science (D.Sc), and Doctor of Humanities (D.Arts).
In addition, institutions that do not operate active PhD programmes are now barred from granting honorary doctorates.
Alausa explained that this measure targets the growing trend of relatively new universities—some less than five years old—awarding honorary degrees despite lacking postgraduate research capacity.
He further emphasized that all such awards must clearly include the terms “honorary” or “Honoris Causa” on certificates and in any official reference.
Concerns about the misuse of honorary degrees in Nigeria have persisted for years, with critics accusing some institutions of granting them based on financial influence or political connections rather than merit.
An earlier attempt to address the issue came in 2012 through the Keffi Declaration by the Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, which outlined ethical guidelines for such awards. However, the initiative lacked enforcement power.
He explained, “The association doesn’t have any legal backing to enforce anything.
“That is why we brought this to the Federal Executive Council, which now gives it legal and executive backing.”
The minister added that both the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission (NUC) will circulate the directive to university authorities nationwide.
He also revealed that convocation ceremonies will be monitored to ensure adherence, while collaboration with the media will help prevent misuse of academic titles.
Additionally, the ministry plans to release an annual list of verified honorary degree recipients as part of efforts to safeguard the integrity of legitimately earned academic qualifications.