Nigeria Bans Honorary Degree Holders from Using ‘Dr’ Title, Cracks Down on Abuse of Academic Honours
Last update: May 6, 2026
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No more “Dr” without a doctorate—Nigeria’s Federal Government has drawn a firm line, banning honorary degree recipients from using the prestigious title in a sweeping reform targeting abuse and political patronage.
CBI News reports that the Federal Government of Nigeria has officially banned recipients of honorary degrees from using the title “Dr” as part of their names, in a decisive move to restore integrity to academic honours.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, during a media briefing at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
According to the minister, the decision was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at its meeting held on April 30.
Alausa explained that the policy aims to curb the growing abuse of honorary degrees, which he said have increasingly been used for political patronage, financial gain, and the recognition of serving public officials—practices that contradict global academic standards.
“The recent trend in the award of honorary degrees has revealed widespread misuse and politicisation of this privilege,” he stated, noting that such honours are meant to recognize exceptional contributions to society, not serve as tools for influence or reward.
As part of the new directive, universities have been warned against violating the policy, with sanctions awaiting any institution that fails to comply. Vice Chancellors across the country have also been instructed to tighten and standardise the process of awarding honorary degrees.
In addition, the government has mandated that all universities must now obtain prior approval from the National Universities Commission (NUC) before conferring honorary degrees.
The move is expected to significantly reform the system, ensuring that honorary recognitions are awarded based on merit and credibility, while protecting the value of earned academic titles.
Education stakeholders have described the policy as a bold step toward preserving the dignity of Nigeria’s academic institutions and restoring public confidence in honorary awards.
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