The Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) has identified 32 fraudulent entities that are selling honorary doctorate degrees in the country. In response, the commission has warned universities about the growing abuse of honorary doctorates and announced an imminent nationwide crackdown on fake award‑granting institutions and individuals misusing the “Doctor” title. Executive Secretary Prof. Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu described the situation as a “matter of growing national concern.”
Honorary degrees, which should celebrate exceptional achievements, are being commercialized and issued by illegal “degree mills.” The NUC’s investigation uncovered 10 unaccredited foreign universities, four unlicensed local universities, 15 professional bodies without degree‑awarding powers, and three non‑degree‑awarding institutions that are granting honorary doctorates. Some of these organizations also confer fake professorships, further eroding confidence in Nigeria’s academic system.
Prof. Ribadu condemned the increasing number of recipients who present themselves as PhD holders based on honorary awards, noting that such conduct is unethical and punishable under Nigerian fraud laws. Using the title “Dr” without clarifying that it stems from an honorary degree constitutes false representation, he warned.
The NUC also expressed concern over the widespread disregard for the Keffi Declaration of 2012, an agreement by Nigerian vice‑chancellors that prohibits universities from awarding honorary degrees to serving public officials and bars recipients from using the “Dr” title indiscriminately. Only legally approved public or private universities may award honorary doctorates, and recipients must limit usage to formats such as Doctor of Literature (Honoris Causa) or D.Litt (h.c.).
A national guideline for the award and use of honorary doctorate degrees has been completed and will soon be published. Working with law‑enforcement agencies, the NUC will launch an aggressive crackdown on illegal degree mills and individuals misusing honorary titles. The commission is calling on the public, security agencies, and higher‑education stakeholders to support this renewed effort to “restore honor to honorary degrees” and protect the dignity of Nigeria’s academic institutions.
These actions underscore the need for regulatory oversight to maintain the integrity of Nigeria’s higher education system. By clamping down on fake degree mills and publishing the national guideline, the NUC aims to restore credibility to honorary doctorate degrees and prevent their misuse, safeguarding the nation’s academic standards and deterring exploitation for personal gain.
Comments are closed for this story.