The National Universities Commission has raised concern over the rampant misuse of honorary doctorate degrees by some Nigerian universities and unaccredited institutions, warning that the trend threatens the integrity of the country’s higher education system.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, disclosed this on Friday in Abuja while presenting the findings of a recent investigation into what he described as the “awards and public misuse of honorary doctorate degrees.”
Citing a Daily Trust report, Ribadu revealed that the probe covered 61 institutions and professional bodies. According to him, the outcome was “deeply disturbing.”
“The investigation identified 32 institutions operating as honorary doctorate degree mills,” he said.
“These include 10 unaccredited foreign universities, four unlicensed local universities, 15 professional bodies without degree-awarding powers, and three other institutions not authorised to award degrees.”
He added that the inquiry also uncovered cases where fake professorships were being issued to unsuspecting members of the public.
“It’s even more alarming that some of these institutions go as far as awarding fake professorships,” Ribadu stated.
The NUC boss cautioned that recipients of honorary degrees are not permitted to use the title “Dr” before their names, stressing that the designation is exclusive to holders of academic PhDs or medical qualifications.
“Awardees may use nomenclatures such as ‘Doctor of Literature,’ but must refrain from adopting the title ‘Dr,’” he said.
“They are also not allowed to function as scholars, supervise research, or head academic or administrative units on the basis of an honorary degree.”
Ribadu further emphasised that only recognised Nigerian universities have the legal authority to confer honorary doctorates and that the Commission is empowered to regulate both the award and use of such honours.
The report follows the work of a five-member committee established to examine the rising politicisation and abuse of honorary degrees.
The panel, chaired by Prof. Kabiru Bala, former Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, was mandated to recommend ethical standards for awarding and regulating honorary titles.
Speaking earlier in the week at Nile University’s 13th convocation, Ribadu also criticised institutions that have ignored the 2012 Keffi Declaration, which bars universities from awarding honorary doctorates to serving public officers.
“The Keffi Declaration clearly prohibits awarding honorary doctorates to serving officers, political or otherwise,” he said. “Unfortunately, many institutions still violate this guideline.”
