The National Universities Commission has raised concerns over what it described as the indiscriminate conferment and misuse of honorary doctorate degrees across Nigerian universities, warning that sanctions will be imposed on institutions and individuals found in violation of its regulations.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Commission unveiled a 16 point guideline for the award and appropriate use of honorary doctorates. The directive is anchored on the Education Act National Minimum Standards and Establishment of Institutions CAP E3 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, as well as the Commission’s statutory mandate.
“The commission is deeply concerned about the increasing misuse and indiscriminate conferment of honorary doctorate degrees in the Nigerian University,” the statement read.
According to the Commission, the new framework is designed to regulate the conferment process, safeguard academic integrity and preserve the credibility of Nigerian universities. All universities and degree awarding institutions have been directed to comply strictly with the provisions, which are aligned with the Keffi Declaration of 2012 signed by vice chancellors nationwide.
The Commission emphasised that honorary doctorates, whether awarded within or outside Nigeria, are ceremonial distinctions and must not be regarded as equivalent to earned academic doctorates.
“These guidelines are issued to protect the integrity, reputation, and global standing of the Nigerian university system. All stakeholders must comply fully with the procedures for conferment and use of honorary doctorates. Regulatory sanctions will be applied against any institution or individual found in breach of these rules,” the statement added.
The approved guidelines include the following:
Only approved public and private universities in Nigeria are eligible to award honorary doctorate degrees.
Universities must have graduated their first set of PhD students before becoming eligible to confer honorary doctorates.
The award is to recognise exceptional and sustained contributions, reflect institutional values and promote diversity.
Criteria for selection must be clear and transparent, with balanced representation across gender, race, nationality and discipline to avoid conflicts of interest. Procedures for nomination and conferment must be published on the institution’s official website.
Self nominated candidates and serving elected or appointed public officials are not eligible.
All stages of the process must be treated with strict confidentiality. Nominees may only be contacted after approval by the University Senate and Governing Council.
All nominations must be processed through the statutory committee and receive Senate and Governing Council approval.
No more than three honorary doctorate degrees may be conferred at a single convocation ceremony.
All honorary doctorate degrees must bear the nomenclature Honoris Causa, for example Doctor of Science Honoris Causa DSc h.c.
Awards must be conferred in person during a ceremony, although virtual or in absentia conferment may be permitted in exceptional cases, and posthumous awards are allowed.
No fee or payment is to be demanded or expected from recipients.
Recipients may use the approved title such as Doctor of Law Honoris Causa LL.D h.c. or include Honoris Causa or DSc h.c. after their names. However, they are not permitted to use “Dr.”, which is reserved for holders of earned academic degrees and medical professionals. They are also barred from using the honorary award to practise as scholars or professionals, oversee administrative units or supervise research work.
Awarding universities must provide written and verbal orientation to recipients on the proper use of the honour.
Institutions are required to publish and regularly update the names of honorary doctorate recipients on their official websites to promote transparency.
Finally, universities must establish a formal mechanism to revoke honorary doctorate degrees where a recipient is convicted of fraud or engages in unethical conduct inconsistent with the institution’s values.
