The National Universities Commission (NUC) has announced plans to sanction Nigerian universities found to be involved in the indiscriminate conferment and misuse of honorary doctorate degrees, amid concerns over the integrity and reputation of the country’s higher education system.
In a statement issued Thursday, the commission warned that institutions and individuals in violation of approved guidelines would face regulatory action, as part of broader efforts to stem the alleged abuse of academic titles.
The NUC said it has observed a rising incidence of honorary doctorate awards that do not align with established academic standards and statutory requirements. “The commission has observed, with grave concern, the increasing incidence of indiscriminate conferment and misuse of Honorary Doctorate Degrees within the Nigerian University System,” the statement read.
To address the trend, the NUC has approved a comprehensive set of guidelines for the award and use of honorary doctorate degrees across Nigeria’s universities. These, the commission said, were intended to “regulate the conferment process, preserve academic integrity and safeguard the credibility of the Nigerian University System.”
The directive outlines that honorary degrees are distinctions meant to recognise exceptional achievement or contribution and should not be regarded as equivalent to earned academic doctorates. The commission emphasised that universities must adhere strictly to the provisions and that appropriate sanctions will follow any breach.
The move follows wider concerns over the misuse of honorary titles in Nigeria, which has previously prompted the NUC to conduct investigations into the indiscriminate award and public use of honorary degree titles through a specially constituted committee. That panel, inaugurated in September 2025, was tasked with examining the award process and recommending regulatory practices to protect academic standards.
Earlier reports indicate that such investigations identified multiple institutions involved in questionable practices, including unlicensed universities and professional bodies without degree-awarding authority, sometimes operating as “honorary degree mills”.
Under the updated guidelines, only duly approved universities may confer honorary doctorate degrees, which must carry the designation honoris causa. Recipients are further cautioned against using these honours as credentials for professional practice, academic roles, or to imply equivalence with earned doctorates.
The NUC’s action aims to restore public confidence in Nigeria’s university system at a time when allegations of abuse and misuse of academic titles have drawn criticism from educators and stakeholders nationwide.
