June 11, (THEWILL) — The Federal Government has unveiled a comprehensive set of guidelines for the conferment of honorary Doctorate degrees by Nigerian universities, barring serving public officials from receiving such awards and introducing stringent measures to restore the credibility and integrity of academic honours in the country.
The new framework, approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and developed by the National Universities Commission (NUC), was announced by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, through a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Education.
A statement signed by the Ministry Director, Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, said the guidelines come amid growing concerns over the increasing commercialisation, politicisation and abuse of honorary doctorate awards, which education stakeholders have repeatedly warned were undermining the value and prestige associated with academic distinctions.
A major provision of the new policy prohibits elected and appointed public officials from being considered for honorary doctorate awards while in office. The guidelines also outlaw self-nominations, a move designed to curb lobbying and undue influence in the award process.
According to the Ministry, honorary doctorates are intended to recognise individuals who have made exceptional contributions to society, demonstrated outstanding leadership, achieved significant professional accomplishments or rendered distinguished public service.
To ensure that only qualified institutions confer such honours, the government directed that universities must have graduated at least one set of PhD candidates before becoming eligible to award honorary doctorate degrees.
The policy further requires all nominations to undergo rigorous scrutiny by the NUC and a Special Fraud Unit before approval. Universities are also expected to secure endorsement from both their Senate and Governing Council before any honorary degree can be conferred.
In a bid to eliminate undue influence and preserve the integrity of the process, the government mandated strict confidentiality in the nomination and screening stages. Under the new rules, nominees are not to be contacted or informed of their nomination until all approvals and security clearances have been completed.
The guidelines also limit universities to a maximum of three honorary doctorate awards per convocation ceremony and require all honorary degrees to bear the designation “Honoris Causa.”
Significantly, recipients of honorary doctorate degrees will no longer be permitted to use the title “Dr” solely on the basis of the award. The Ministry clarified that the title remains reserved for holders of earned doctoral qualifications and recognised medical degrees.
“Honorary doctorate recipients may indicate the award using the approved designation but shall not represent themselves as holders of earned academic or professional doctorates”, the statement noted.
The government also prohibited universities from charging fees or receiving financial inducements in connection with honorary degree awards, warning that such practices would attract sanctions.
To promote transparency, universities will be required to maintain publicly accessible records of honorary degree recipients and publish details of awards on their official websites.
The policy also provides for the withdrawal of honorary doctorate degrees from recipients found guilty of fraud, corruption or other conduct deemed inconsistent with the values of the awarding institution.
The Federal Government warned that institutions that violate the guidelines risk severe penalties, including suspension of resource verification exercises for up to two years, delayed accreditation of academic programmes and possible dissolution of governing councils.
As part of enforcement measures, the NUC has been directed to monitor compliance nationwide, while the Inspector-General of Police is expected to facilitate the establishment of a Special Fraud Unit to investigate and prosecute violations related to honorary doctorate awards.
The Ministry said the reforms are intended to safeguard the sanctity of honorary academic distinctions and ensure that such awards remain symbols of excellence, integrity, service and outstanding contributions to national development.
“With these guidelines, the Federal Government seeks to restore public confidence in honorary doctorate awards and strengthen the reputation of Nigerian universities both locally and internationally”, the statement added.
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