The Federal Government has taken a bold step to protect the integrity of academic titles. On Wednesday, it officially banned recipients of honorary degrees from using the title “Dr” before their names.
This decision, announced by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, marks a major shift in how honorary awards are recognised in Nigeria. According to him, using “Dr” without earning a doctoral degree is now considered a misrepresentation of academic credentials.
As a result, such actions will be treated as academic fraud, carrying both legal and reputational consequences.
In addition, the Federal Executive Council approved a new uniform policy to regulate how honorary degrees are awarded and used. This move aims to end years of abuse, where titles were often given for political patronage or financial gain rather than merit.
Furthermore, the government has introduced a clear format for honorary title holders. Instead of using “Dr” as a prefix, recipients must now place the designation after their names. For example, a recipient can write “John Doe, D.Lit. (Honoris Causa)” to reflect the honorary nature of the award.
Meanwhile, the policy also limits Nigerian universities to four recognised honorary degrees. These include Doctor of Laws, Doctor of Letters, Doctor of Science, and Doctor of Humanities. This restriction is designed to curb the growing trend of indiscriminate awards, especially by newer institutions.
To ensure compliance, authorities will monitor convocation ceremonies and publish an annual list of legitimate recipients. The National Universities Commission will also enforce the policy nationwide.
Ultimately, this reform is expected to restore public trust and uphold the true value of earned academic qualifications.
