The Federal Government has banned honorary degree holders from using the “Dr” title, in a decisive move to curb what it described as widespread abuse of academic honours.
Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Education announced the ban during a press briefing at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday, May 6
He disclosed that the decision was approved at the Federal Executive Council meeting held on April 30.
Alausa explained that the directive targets the misuse of honorary degrees, noting that the privilege had increasingly been exploited for political patronage and financial gain.
The Minister said the Federal Government took the step after observing disturbing trends surrounding honorary degree holders and the indiscriminate use of the Dr title.
“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,” he said.
He stressed that the reform would restore credibility to Nigeria’s academic system and protect the integrity of honorary degrees.
Alausa warned that Nigerian universities that fail to comply with the new directive would face sanctions from the Federal Government.
According to him, Vice Chancellors have been instructed to streamline processes governing honorary degree holders, in line with the new policy.
The Minister further revealed that, going forward, institutions must obtain approval from the National Universities Commission before awarding honorary degrees.
Under the revised framework, Nigerian universities will no longer have unilateral powers to confer honorary degrees without oversight.
The Minister said the involvement of the National Universities Commission would ensure stricter regulation and eliminate abuse linked to honorary degrees and misuse of academic titles.
