Nigeria Cracks Down On Misuse Of Honorary Degrees
By ANITA KNIGHT
THE Federal Government has warned universities against conferring honorary doctorate degrees on serving political office holders, amid reports that some recipients pay up to ₦50 million for the titles.
Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, revealed that 32 institutions, including unaccredited and unlicensed universities, as well as professional bodies with no degree-awarding powers, are operating as honorary degree mills. He noted that using such titles without disclosure constitutes false representation and undermines the integrity of Nigeria’s higher education system.
Prof. Ribadu said any institution found culpable would face penalties, with the NUC working with the National Assembly to establish a legal framework to punish violators. He emphasized that only approved universities are authorized to award honorary doctorates in Nigeria.
The announcement follows rising concerns over misuse of honorary titles, mirroring recent actions in Ghana, where authorities banned unearned academic titles and threatened legal action against violators.
