NUC Curbs Abuse of Honorary Doctorates in Nigeria

By Emmanuel Kwada 

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has taken a firm stance against the rampant misuse of honorary doctorate degrees in Nigeria, unveiling a comprehensive plan to restore integrity to the nation’s higher education system.

In a press release issued on November 24, 2025, the NUC, led by Executive Secretary Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, announced the development of a national guideline to regulate the award and use of honorary degrees, signaling an aggressive crackdown on illegal “degree mills.”

The NUC’s investigation revealed a troubling trend, identifying 32 fraudulent entities involved in the unauthorized sale of honorary doctorate degrees.

These include 10 unaccredited foreign universities, four unlicensed local institutions, 15 professional bodies lacking degree-awarding powers, and three additional entities operating illegally.

The commission expressed alarm over the widespread non-compliance with the Keffi Declaration of 2012, a policy agreed upon by Nigerian vice-chancellors that prohibits awarding honorary degrees to serving public officials and restricts recipients from using the “Dr” title without clarification.

Professor Ribadu emphasized that the Education (National Minimum Standards and Establishment of Institutions) Act, Chapter E2, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, empowers only duly approved public and private universities to confer honorary doctorates.

He warned that the misuse of such titles, particularly without proper disclosure, constitutes false representation and is punishable under Nigerian law. Furthermore, honorary degree holders are barred from teaching, supervising research, or assuming academic or professional roles within institutions.

The newly developed national guideline, set to be published soon, will serve as a legal framework to curb the abuse. The NUC plans to collaborate with law enforcement agencies to target illegal degree mills and individuals misusing honorary titles.

“This is not just a matter of ethics; it is a matter of law,” Ribadu stated, urging stakeholders, security agencies, and the public to support the initiative to “restore honor to our honorary degrees.”

This crackdown comes as part of a broader effort to safeguard the credibility of Nigeria’s academic institutions, with the NUC appealing for collective action to uphold the dignity of the country’s higher education system.