Otamere Gladness 
ES, NUC, Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu
ABUJA, Nigeria – The National Universities Commission (NUC) announces sweeping new measures to halt what it describes as the “growing abuse” of honorary doctorate degrees in Nigeria, including a strict ban on awarding such titles to serving public officials.
NUC Executive Secretary, Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, makes the declaration in Abuja on Friday while receiving a committee report on the awarding and misuse of honorary titles. He says the Commission acted after a nationwide investigation exposed widespread malpractice.
“These degrees are meant to recognise exceptional achievement, but they are increasingly being misused,” Ribadu warns. He adds that the trend has been worsened by the proliferation of unaccredited institutions — both local and foreign — which operate as “honorary degree mills.”
The investigation found significant violations of the Keffi Declaration of 2012, in which Vice-Chancellors agreed to regulate honorary awards and prohibit universities from conferring such degrees on serving officials. The declaration also instructs recipients not to style themselves “Dr” without clarification.
“This is not only unethical; it is unlawful,” Ribadu stresses. “Using the title ‘Dr’ on the basis of an honorary degree amounts to false representation, which attracts penalties under Nigerian fraud-related laws.”
According to the committee, 32 institutions are operating as honorary degree mills across Nigeria. These include 10 unaccredited foreign universities, four unlicensed local universities, 15 professional bodies without degree-awarding powers, and three non-academic institutions. Some are said to award fake professorships.
“Let us be clear,” Ribadu states. “Only accredited Nigerian universities may award honorary doctorates, and even then, recipients must use the correct nomenclature such as Doctor of Literature (Honoris Causa). The title ‘Dr’ is strictly for holders of earned doctorates and medical qualifications.”
He says the Commission aims to restore public confidence in genuine academic qualifications and protect the integrity of Nigeria’s higher-education system.
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Juliet Jacob 
Hussaini Ibrahim 
