The Federal Government has banned recipients of honorary degrees from using the title “Dr” before their names in official, academic or professional settings.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, announced the directive on Wednesday during a media briefing at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said the decision was approved at the Federal Executive Council meeting held on April 30, adding that it was aimed at curbing the rising misuse and politicisation of honorary degrees.
According to him, honorary degrees have increasingly been awarded for patronage, financial influence and political considerations, rather than academic merit.
“The recent trend we’ve seen with the award of honorary degrees has revealed a growing abuse and politicisation of this academic privilege. We’ve seen awards being used for political patronage, for financial gain, as well as the conferral of awards on serving public officials, which, as part of the ethics of honorary degree awards, should not happen,” he said.
Alausa warned that institutions found violating the new directive would face sanctions, adding that vice-chancellors have been instructed to ensure strict regulation and standardisation of honorary degree awards.
He further stated that universities must now obtain approval from the National Universities Commission (NUC) before conferring honorary degrees.
