FG Bans Use Of “Dr” By Recipients Of Honourary Doctorate Degrees, Warns Universities

By Ayodele Oni 

As part of measures to standardize and restore credibility to honorary academic awards in Nigeria, the Federal Government has banned the use of the prefix ‘Dr’ by honorary degree holders in official, academic or professional contexts.

Also, Vice-chancellors have been instructed to tighten procedures around the conferment process.

The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa announced this on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, while briefing State House correspondents after a Federal Executive Council meeting.

According to him, “The recent trend we’ve seen with the award of honorary degrees has revealed a growing abuse and politicisation of this academic privilege.

“We’ve seen awards being used for political patronage, for financial gain, as well as the conferral of awards on serving public officials, which, as part of the ethics of honorary degree awards, should not happen.”

Under the new directive, individuals who receive honorary degrees will no longer be permitted to use the title ‘Dr’ before their names.

Instead, they are required to state the full honorary designation after their names.

He also noted that serving public officials had been awarded such honours contrary to established ethical standards.

“The recent trend we’ve seen with the award of honorary degrees has revealed a growing abuse and politicisation of this academic privilege,” he said.

The minister warned that universities that violated the directive would face sanctions.

“Going forward, all universities must obtain approval from the National Universities Commission before awarding honorary degrees.”