NUC Tightens Grip on Honorary Degrees, Bans ‘Dr.’ Title for Recipients, Sets Strict Eligibility Rules to Restore Academic Integrity

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has rolled out sweeping new guidelines regulating the conferment of honorary degrees across Nigerian universities, introducing far-reaching measures aimed at restoring credibility and curbing long-standing abuses in the system.

At the heart of the new policy is a firm prohibition against recipients of honorary degrees using the “Dr.” title, a practice the commission says has contributed to the erosion of academic standards and public trust. The NUC emphasized that such titles are strictly reserved for individuals who have earned doctoral degrees through rigorous academic processes or are certified medical professionals.

In its directive, the commission stated that recipients of honorary awards must instead adopt appropriate post-nominal designations, such as Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) – D.Sc (H.C), clearly distinguishing honorary recognitions from earned academic qualifications.

The new framework also introduces stricter eligibility criteria for universities themselves. Only institutions that have successfully graduated their first set of PhD students will now be permitted to confer honorary degrees, an effort to ensure that such honours are awarded by academically mature and research-capable institutions.

In a decisive move to eliminate commercialization, the NUC has outlawed any form of payment, donation, or financial expectation tied to the award of honorary degrees. It stressed that all such recognitions must be granted strictly on merit, without any monetary influence.

To further sanitize the process, universities are now limited to awarding a maximum of three honorary degrees per convocation ceremony. The guidelines also bar self-nominated candidates and exclude serving elected or appointed public officials from consideration, a step widely seen as targeting political patronage in academia.

Transparency has also been made a cornerstone of the new policy. Universities are now mandated to publicly disclose the names of all honorary degree recipients on their official websites.

In addition, institutions must establish clear revocation mechanisms, allowing them to withdraw honours from individuals later found guilty of fraud, misconduct, or other unethical behavior.

Clarifying the scope of such awards, the NUC reiterated that honorary degrees do not confer any professional or academic privileges. Recipients are not entitled to practice in regulated professions, supervise academic research, or occupy administrative positions within universities based solely on such honours.

The commission issued a strong warning that compliance with the new guidelines is mandatory. Institutions found violating the rules risk facing regulatory sanctions, underscoring the NUC’s determination to enforce discipline within the university system.

According to the commission, these reforms form part of a broader effort to safeguard the credibility, dignity, and global reputation of Nigeria’s higher education sector, ensuring that academic honours retain their true value and prestige.