The Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) has moved against 32 institutions over the growing abuse of honorary doctorate degrees in Nigeria, warning that the misuse of the title “Dr” by beneficiaries amounts to false representation and undermines the country’s higher education system.
NUC Executive Secretary, Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, revealed this in Abuja on Friday after receiving the report of a committee set up to investigate the award and public misuse of honorary doctorates.
According to Ribadu, the fake “honorary doctorate mills” include:
- 10 unaccredited foreign universities
- 4 unlicensed local universities
- 15 professional bodies with no degree-awarding powers
- Other non-degree-awarding outfits also confer fake professorships and honorary titles.
He warned that the list “may not be exhaustive,” describing the findings as “deeply concerning,” particularly because many institutions are flouting the Keffi Declaration of 2012.
Keffi Declaration of 2012
The Keffi Declaration, agreed by Nigerian vice-chancellors, regulates the award of honorary degrees. It bans the award of honorary doctorates to serving public officials and cautions recipients against using the title “Dr” without proper disclosure.
“This is not just a matter of ethics; it is a matter of law,” Ribadu said, stressing that the misuse of honorary titles erodes public trust, devalues legitimate academic degrees, and disrespects the efforts of genuine scholars.
He reiterated that only approved public or private universities are legally empowered, under the National Minimum Standards and Establishment of Institutions Act, to confer honorary doctorate degrees.
Recipients, he noted, may use designations such as D.Litt (h.c.) or Doctor of Literature (Honoris Causa) after their names, but must not use the title ‘Dr’, which is reserved for holders of earned PhDs, medical doctors, and other recognised professional doctorates.
To restore integrity to the system, Ribadu announced that the NUC has developed comprehensive national guidelines for the award and use of honorary doctorates, which will soon be released to the public, adding that the Commission, working with law enforcement and other agencies, will launch a nationwide clampdown on honorary degree mills.
Chairman of the investigative committee, Prof. Kabiru Bala, former Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, said the report showed that while some Nigerian universities comply with the Keffi Declaration, overall adherence is inconsistent.
The committee documented serious deviations, including:
- Universities conferring honorary degrees on serving public officials.
- Allegations that some awards are granted in exchange for financial inducements
- Honorees exploiting the titles to claim unearned academic status, attract undue prestige or secure personal advantages.
