By Eteteonline
The Federal Government, through the National Universities Commission (NUC), has prohibited honorary doctorate degrees from being awarded to active public officials in response to allegations of misuse.
The emergence of unlawful and unaccredited universities, both domestic and international, functioning as honorary degree mills, has exacerbated the misuse of honorary doctorate degrees.
According to Professor Abdullahi Ribadu, the Executive Secretary of the NUC, using the title “Dr.” based on an honorary degree without providing clarification is considered fraudulent representation and is illegal in Nigeria under a number of statutes pertaining to fraud.
According to him, 32 institutions have been functioning as honorary degree mills in Nigeria. These consist of four unlicensed local universities, ten unaccredited foreign colleges, fifteen professional bodies that lack the authority to grant degrees, and three other non-degree-granting establishments.
According to Ribadu, instead of using the title “Dr,” which is only appropriate for those with earned doctorates and medical professionals, the recipients must use proper nomenclature, such as Doctor of Literature (Honoris Causa).
Politicians, corporate executives, and celebrities have received honorary doctorates from both approved and unaccredited Nigerian institutions in recent years.
A five-person committee was established by the NUC on September 1, 2025, to look into the increasing politicization and abuse of honorary doctorates in Nigeria.
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