NUC Issues 16 Guidelines for Honorary Doctorates in Nigeria

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has issued 16 new guidelines concerning the issuance of honorary doctorates in Nigeria. This action is in response to the increasing trend of abuse and misrepresentation of honorary degrees both locally and internationally.

The guidelines aim to regulate the conferment process, ensuring the preservation of academic integrity and the credibility of the Nigerian university system. The NUC has warned that regulatory sanctions will be imposed on institutions that violate these guidelines.

A committee, inaugurated on September 1, 2025, and led by Executive Secretary Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, will oversee the implementation of these regulations. The NUC identified 32 institutions that operate honorary doctorate programs, including 10 foreign agricultural universities, four unlicensed local universities, and 15 professional bodies without the authority to award degrees.

The commission reiterated that recipients of honorary degrees should not use the prefix "Dr." or assume academic roles based on these titles.