NUC Bans "Dr." Title for Honorary Degrees
Key details at a glance (tl;dr)
NUC has tightened honorary degree rules in Nigeria. Recipients cannot use the "Dr." title under the new policy.
- Only some universities can award honorary degrees
- Recipients must use post-nominal titles, not "Dr."
- No payment or inducement is allowed
- Only three awards per convocation are allowed
- Serving public officials cannot receive the award
The National Universities Commission, NUC, has issued stricter rules for the award of honorary degrees in Nigerian universities. A central part of the new rule is plain: recipients of honorary degrees must not use the “Dr.” title.
The Commission said the move is meant to stop abuse and the loose conferment of honorary awards, which it said has reduced the value of genuine academic distinctions.
Universities that can award honorary degrees
Under the new guidelines, only universities that have graduated their first set of PhD students can confer honorary degrees.
That rule shuts out newer universities from the practice; at least for now.
Honorary degree recipients cannot use the “Dr.” title
The NUC said recipients of honorary degrees must not put “Dr.” before their names. The approved format is a post-nominal title such as Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa), written as D.Sc (H.C).
The Commission made its position clear. The “Dr.” title is for people who earned doctoral degrees or certified medical practitioners.
No money for honorary degrees
The new guideline also bars any form of financial inducement in the award process. The NUC said honorary degrees must be based on merit alone and conferred free of charge.
Limit placed on number of awards
Universities can now award a maximum of three honorary degrees per convocation ceremony.
The Commission also barred self-nominated candidates and serving public officials, whether elected or appointed, from receiving such honours.
New transparency rules for universities
The NUC said universities must publish the names of honorary degree recipients on their official websites.
The institutions must also put procedures in place to revoke honours from recipients later found guilty of misconduct.
Honorary degrees carry no academic or professional rights
The Commission said honorary degrees do not give any academic or professional privilege. They do not grant the right to practise regulated professions, supervise research, or hold administrative positions in universities.
That point is easy to miss, yet it sits at the heart of the new rule.
Sanctions for non-compliance
The NUC warned that institutions that fail to follow the guidelines will face regulatory sanctions.
It said the reforms form part of wider efforts to protect the integrity and global reputation of Nigeria’s university system. In the Commission’s view, academic honours must reflect merit, dignity, and excellence.
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