The Federal Government has banned recipients of honorary degrees from using the prefix “Dr” before their names, describing the practice as misleading and a form of academic fraud.
The new directive, which takes immediate effect, aims to restore credibility to academic titles and prevent the continued abuse of honorary degrees across the country.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Education, honorary degree holders must now clearly indicate the ceremonial nature of their award by appending “Honoris Causa” or similar designations after their names. Using “Dr” in official documents, academic settings, professional correspondence, or public platforms will no longer be permitted.
The government emphasised that honorary doctorates are symbolic recognitions of contributions to society and not equivalent to earned doctoral degrees obtained through academic research and rigorous examination.
A senior government official explained that the measure became necessary due to the rising number of politicians, businessmen, and public figures adopting the “Dr” title after receiving honorary awards, often creating the false impression of advanced scholarly achievement.
The policy also introduces stricter guidelines for Nigerian universities. Only institutions authorised to award PhDs will be allowed to confer honorary doctorates, and such awards will require prior approval from the National Universities Commission (NUC).
Institutions found violating the new rules risk sanctions, while individuals who continue to misuse the title could face appropriate regulatory action.
Education stakeholders have welcomed the development, describing it as a long-overdue step to sanitise the higher education system and protect the integrity of genuine academic qualifications.
The Federal Government said it will issue detailed implementation guidelines in the coming days, including a grace period for compliance and mechanisms for monitoring adherence nationwide.
This latest reform is part of broader efforts to strengthen standards in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector and rebuild public confidence in academic credentials.
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