NUC Issues New Guidelines for Honorary Doctorates in Nigeria

On Thursday, the National Universities Commission (NUC) released a public notice detailing new guidelines for the awarding of honorary doctorates in Nigeria. This action responds to increasing concerns regarding the indiscriminate conferment of these degrees within the Nigerian university system.

The guidelines, developed under the NUC's statutory responsibilities, aim to establish a framework that regulates the conferment process, thereby preserving academic integrity and safeguarding the credibility of Nigerian universities globally. The NUC emphasized that honorary doctorates, awarded either within Nigeria or abroad, are distinct from earned academic qualifications and are conferred honoris causa to acknowledge significant contributions to public service or scholarship.

Prof. Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, the NUC's Executive Secretary, noted that the guidelines were developed with input from various stakeholders, including the Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities. Institutions found violating these guidelines will face regulatory sanctions, reinforcing the importance of adherence to the new framework.