FG Approves Strict Guidelines on Honorary Doctorate Awards

The Federal Government has approved comprehensive new guidelines regulating the award and use of honorary doctorate degrees across Nigerian universities, in a move aimed at restoring academic credibility and integrity.

The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, disclosed this in a statement on June 1, 2026, noting that the policy was approved by the Federal Executive Council following recommendations from the National Universities Commission (NUC).

According to the statement, the new framework addresses concerns around abuse, commercialization, and misuse of honorary academic awards in the country’s university system.

The guidelines set strict conditions for eligibility, nomination, approval, conferment, and revocation of honorary doctorate degrees, with only accredited universities that have produced their first PhD graduates permitted to make such awards.

It also limits universities to a maximum of three honorary degrees per convocation and mandates that all such awards must be clearly designated as “Honoris Causa.”

Importantly, the Federal Government ruled that recipients of honorary doctorate degrees are not permitted to use the title “Dr.” as part of their official or professional identity.

The guidelines further introduce oversight mechanisms, including the establishment of a special monitoring unit under the NUC to ensure compliance and address violations.

Universities are also required to publish the names of honorary degree recipients, provide proper orientation to awardees, and implement revocation procedures where necessary.

The Federal Government warned that violations of the new policy could attract sanctions, including suspension of accreditation processes and dissolution of university governing councils.