By Imisioluwa Afunmiso
The National Universities Commission (NUC) has issued a new directive to regulate the conferment of honorary degrees, including an explicit ban on recipients using the Dr. prefix.
This move is part of a broader effort to curb the indiscriminate award of academic honors and protect the integrity of Nigeria’s university system.
Under the newly introduced guidelines, the NUC clarified that the title of Doctor is strictly reserved for individuals who have earned a PhD through academic research or are certified medical practitioners.
Recipients of honorary awards are now required to use appropriate post-nominal titles, such as Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) — D.Sc (H.C.), rather than placing Dr. before their names.
To further sanitize the process, the Commission has restricted the power to grant these honors. Only universities that have successfully graduated their first set of PhD students are now eligible to confer honorary degrees, effectively barring newer institutions from the practice.
The NUC also imposed a cap on the number of awards, limiting universities to a maximum of three honorary degrees per convocation ceremony.
The NUC reminded stakeholders that an honorary degree is a symbolic recognition and does not grant academic or professional privileges.
Warning of regulatory sanctions for non-compliance, the Commission emphasized that these reforms are essential to ensure that Nigerian academic honors continue to reflect genuine merit, dignity, and excellence on a global scale.