The Federal Government has officially banned recipients of honorary degrees from using the title “Dr” in any academic, professional, or official setting, warning that violators will face legal and reputational consequences.
The directive was announced by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, during a briefing at the Presidential Villa in Abuja following approvals by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
REASON FOR THE NEW POLICY
According to the Minister, the move became necessary due to the increasing misuse and commercialization of honorary degrees, with some institutions allegedly awarding them for political or financial reasons.
He noted that the growing trend has undermined the credibility of academic titles in Nigeria.
WHAT THE NEW RULE SAYS
Under the new regulation:
- Holders of honorary degrees must not use “Dr” as a title
- They must instead indicate the nature of the award after their name
- Acceptable formats include:
- Name, D.Lit. (Honoris Causa)
- Name, LL.D (Hons.)
Presenting an honorary award as an earned academic qualification will be treated as academic fraud and will attract sanctions.
APPROVED HONORARY DEGREE CATEGORIES
The government has also standardized the types of honorary degrees universities can award:
- Doctor of Laws (LL.D)
- Doctor of Letters (D.Lit)
- Doctor of Science (D.Sc)
- Doctor of Humanities (D.Arts)
ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS
- Universities without active PhD programmes are barred from awarding honorary degrees
- All honorary awards must clearly include “Honoris Causa” on certificates and official references
ENFORCEMENT AND MONITORING
The Federal Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the National Universities Commission (NUC), will oversee implementation, monitor compliance during convocations, and publish an annual list of legitimate recipients.
The government also plans to work with the media to curb misuse of academic titles and protect the integrity of Nigeria’s education system.
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