The Federal Government has banned people who receive honorary doctorate degrees from using the title “Dr” before their names in official, academic, or professional settings.
Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, announced the decision on Wednesday while speaking to journalists at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
He said the Federal Executive Council approved a new policy to regulate the award and use of honorary degrees by Nigerian universities.
According to the minister, the government wants to stop the misuse of honorary degrees, which he said have often been given out for political favour and financial benefits.
Alausa explained that honorary degree holders must now write the full title after their names instead of using “Dr” before their names.
He gave examples such as “Chief Louis Clark, D.Lit. (Honoris Causa)” and “Mrs. Miriam Adamu, LL.D. Hons.”
He warned that anyone who presents an honorary degree as an earned academic qualification will be considered guilty of academic fraud and may face legal and reputational consequences.
The new policy also limits honorary degrees in Nigerian universities to four categories: Doctor of Laws (LL.D), Doctor of Letters (D.Lit), Doctor of Science (D.Sc), and Doctor of Humanities (D. Arts).
The government also directed that only universities with active PhD programmes can award honorary degrees. Institutions without postgraduate research programmes will no longer be allowed to confer such awards.
Alausa said all honorary degree certificates must clearly include the words “Honorary” or “Honoris Causa.”
The minister said the move is aimed at restoring the value and integrity of academic qualifications in Nigeria.
He added that the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission will send official instructions to universities across the country to ensure compliance.
The government also plans to monitor convocation ceremonies and work with the media to prevent the wrong use of academic titles.
Alausa further revealed that the ministry will publish an annual list of recognised honorary degree recipients to protect the credibility of earned academic qualifications.
