The Federal Government has banned honorary degree recipients from using the “Dr” title, warning that offenders risk being treated for academic fraud under a new education policy
FG Bars Honorary Degree Recipients From Using ‘Dr’ Title, Warns of Academic Fraud
The Federal Government has officially barred recipients of honorary degrees from using the “Dr” title, declaring that any form of misrepresentation will now be treated as academic fraud.
Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, announced the directive on Wednesday at the presidential villa in Abuja after the policy received approval from the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
The government said the move is part of broader efforts to stop the growing abuse and politicisation of honorary academic awards in Nigeria.
“The recent trend we’ve seen with the award of honorary degrees has revealed a growing abuse and politicisation of this academic privilege,” Alausa said.
“We’ve seen awards being used for political patronage, for financial gain, as well as the conferral of awards on serving public officials, which should not happen.”
Under the new policy, honorary degree recipients are no longer allowed to attach “Dr” before their names in official, academic, or professional settings. Instead, recipients must use the honorary title in full after their names.
“Recipients shall not prefix doctor to their names in official, academic or professional usage,” the minister stated.
He added that “misrepresentation of honorary degrees as earned academic credentials shall be considered academic fraud and subject to legal and reputational consequences.”
As part of the reforms, the government also reduced the categories of honorary degrees Nigerian universities can award to just four, Doctor of Laws (LL.D), Doctor of Letters (D.Lit), Doctor of Science (D.Sc) and Doctor of Humanities (D.Arts).
Alausa further disclosed that universities without active PhD programmes will no longer be permitted to confer honorary degrees, a move targeted at curbing the growing proliferation of such awards by newer institutions.
The minister also directed that all honorary awards must clearly state their status as “honorary” or “Honoris Causa.”
The Federal Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission will oversee enforcement and monitor compliance during university convocation ceremonies nationwide.
According to Alausa, the government will additionally publish an annual list of legitimate honorary degree recipients to protect the integrity and credibility of academic qualifications in Nigeria.
