The Federal Government has prohibited holders of honorary degrees from using the title “Dr” before their names.
Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, disclosed this during a press briefing at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.
He explained that the decision was taken at the Federal Executive Council meeting held on April 30.
Alausa said the policy was introduced to address the growing abuse of honorary degrees, which he said have increasingly been used for political patronage and financial advantage.
“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.”
He warned that universities that fail to comply with the directive will face sanctions, adding that Vice Chancellors have been instructed to streamline the award process.
He further stated that, going forward, universities must obtain approval from the Nigerian University Commission (NUC) before conferring honorary degrees.
