The National Universities Commission (NUC) has issued a stern warning to Nigerian universities over what it described as the indiscriminate conferment and misuse of honorary doctorate degrees, unveiling fresh guidelines to regulate the process.
In a statement released on Thursday, the Commission said it was concerned about the growing trend of abuse surrounding honorary awards and stressed that sanctions would be imposed on both institutions and individuals found to have violated its regulations.
The NUC announced a 16-point guideline for the conferment and proper use of honorary doctorates, in line with the Education Act (National Minimum Standards and Establishment of Institutions), CAP E3, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (2004), and its statutory mandate.
According to the Commission, the new directives are aimed at safeguarding academic integrity and preserving the credibility of the Nigerian university system.
“The commission is deeply concerned about the increasing misuse and indiscriminate conferment of honorary doctorate degrees in the Nigerian University,” the statement read.
It added that all universities and degree-awarding institutions must strictly adhere to the provisions, which are aligned with the Keffi Declaration of 2012 endorsed by vice-chancellors across the country.
The NUC clarified that honorary doctorates, whether awarded locally or internationally, are ceremonial in nature and must not be treated as equivalent to earned academic doctorates.
Under the new guidelines, only approved public and private universities that have graduated their first set of PhD students are eligible to confer honorary doctorate degrees.
The Commission also ruled that the awards must be reserved for individuals with exceptional and sustained contributions that reflect institutional values, while ensuring diversity and transparency in the selection process.
Self-nominated candidates and serving elected or appointed public officials are excluded from consideration.
All nominations, the NUC stated, must pass through statutory committees and receive approval from both the University Senate and Governing Council. It further limited the number of honorary doctorate awards to a maximum of three per convocation ceremony.
On nomenclature, the Commission directed that all honorary degrees must bear the title “Honoris Causa,” such as Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa), D.Sc. (h.c.), or LL.D. (h.c.).
Recipients are permitted to use the approved honorary designation after their names but are barred from using the prefix “Dr.,” which the Commission said is reserved for holders of earned academic doctorates and medical professionals.
The guidelines also prohibit recipients from using honorary degrees to practise as scholars or professionals, supervise research, or oversee academic or administrative units.
The NUC further mandated that universities must not charge fees for honorary doctorate awards and must provide written and verbal orientation to recipients on the proper use of the title.
Institutions are also required to publish the names of recipients on their official websites to ensure transparency.
Additionally, universities must establish a formal mechanism for revoking honorary awards in cases where recipients are convicted of fraud or found guilty of unethical conduct inconsistent with institutional values.
“These guidelines are issued to protect the integrity, reputation, and global standing of the Nigerian university system. All stakeholders must comply fully with the procedures for conferment and use of honorary doctorates. Regulatory sanctions will be applied against any institution or individual found in breach of these rules,” the Commission stated.
