The Federal Government has barred recipients of honorary degrees from using the title “Dr,” warning that any violation will be treated as academic fraud under sweeping reforms aimed at restoring integrity in Nigeria’s university system.
Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, disclosed the new policy on Thursday after the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja, describing it as a decisive move to end the abuse and commercialisation of honorary academic titles.
“Honorary degrees must be clearly designated as honoris causa and cannot be used as earned academic qualifications,” Alausa said.
He added that recipients of such awards are now prohibited from using the title “Dr” in any official, academic, or professional capacity solely on the strength of honorary recognition.
According to the minister, the reforms are part of broader efforts by the government to restore academic integrity and strengthen the credibility of Nigeria’s higher education system.
The new framework also stipulates that honorary degrees will not qualify recipients for academic appointments, professional certifications, or regulated practice in any field.
To tighten the system, the government has limited honorary awards to four recognised categories and directed that only universities with established doctoral programmes can confer such honours.
The National Universities Commission has been mandated to enforce the policy, monitor compliance, and publish an annual verified register of legitimate honorary degree recipients across the country.
Alausa said the government would no longer tolerate the politicisation and misuse of academic honours, noting that the reforms were necessary to protect the value of genuine academic achievements.
The announcement is expected to significantly impact the growing trend of public figures and professionals adopting academic titles based solely on honorary awards, a practice that has drawn criticism from stakeholders in the education sector.
