The National Universities Commission (NUC) has released new guidelines to regulate the award and use of honorary doctorate degrees across Nigeria.
The Commission highlighted the rising problem of indiscriminate conferment and misuse of these honours within the Nigerian university system.
In a public notice posted on its official X account on Thursday, the NUC stated that the guidelines were approved under its authority as per the Education (National Minimum Standards and Establishment of Institutions) Act, CAP E3, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The notice read, “The National Universities Commission (NUC), by virtue of the provisions of the Education Act (National Minimum Standards and Establishment of Institutions), CAP E3, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and in the discharge of its statutory responsibility to ensure the orderly development of university education in Nigeria, hereby issues this Public Notice.
“The Commission has observed, with grave concern, the increasing incidence of indiscriminate conferment and misuse of Honorary Doctorate Degrees within the Nigerian University System.
“In response to this development, the Management of the Commission has approved comprehensive Guidelines for the Award and Use of Honorary Doctorate Degrees in Nigeria.”
The NUC explained that the new framework aims to regulate the conferment process, uphold academic integrity, and protect the credibility and international standing of Nigeria’s university system.
All Nigerian universities and other degree-awarding institutions have been directed to comply strictly with these provisions.
The Commission warned that regulatory sanctions would be applied to any institutions or individuals found breaching the approved guidelines.
It further reminded the public that honorary doctorate degrees—whether awarded in Nigeria or overseas—are honorary distinctions and must not be treated as equivalent to earned academic doctorates.
The NUC defined honorary doctorate degrees as “non-earned doctoral degrees awarded honoris causa, for the sake of honour, to acknowledge distinguished merit, outstanding public service, scholarly impact, creative achievement, or significant contributions that reflect the values and mission of the awarding institution.”
Prof. Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, Executive Secretary of the NUC, noted that the guidelines were developed “with due regard to established academic traditions in Nigeria, including the resolutions of the Association of the Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities as articulated in the Keffi Declaration of 2012, and inputs submitted by universities in December 2025.”
He added that the framework seeks “to provide informed policy direction, strengthen institutional practices, and promote a more transparent and accountable system for the award and use of honorary doctorate degrees in Nigeria.”
The guidelines follow an NUC investigation that uncovered widespread abuse, with 32 entities identified as honorary degree mills—including unaccredited foreign universities, unlicensed local institutions, and professional bodies lacking degree-awarding authority. Some were even issuing fake professorships.
Recipients have been prohibited from using the title “Dr,” which remains reserved for holders of PhDs or medical degrees. They may not use honorary degrees to act as scholars, supervise research, or manage administrative units.
Here is the full list of NUC-approved guidelines:
– Institutional eligibility: Only approved universities (either public or private) are eligible to award honorary doctorate degrees in Nigeria.
– Maturity requirement: Only universities that have graduated the first set of PhD students are eligible to award honorary doctorate degrees in Nigeria.
– Purpose of the award: The purpose of the award shall be to recognize exceptional and sustained contribution, reflect institutional values, and ensure diversity.
– Criteria for the award: The criteria for the award shall be clear and transparent with balanced representation across gender, race, nationality, and discipline to avoid conflicts of interest. All procedures for selecting and awarding honorary doctorate degrees shall be clearly stated on the official website of the awarding institution and made accessible.
– Recipient eligibility: Self-nominated candidates and elected or appointed serving public officials are excluded.
– Confidentiality: All aspects of the honorary doctorate degrees shall be treated with the highest level of confidentiality, and nominees shall only be contacted after their nominations have been approved by the Senate and Governing Council.
– Award nomination: All nominations shall be processed by the statutory committee.
– Approval: All nominations require University Senate and Governing Council approval.
– Number of awards: The number of awards at each convocation shall not exceed three (3).
– Nomenclature and title: All honorary doctorate degrees shall contain the nomenclature or title Honoris Causa. For example: Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa), D.Sc. (h.c.)
– Conferment: Shall be in-person at the ceremony. In exceptional cases, the conferment may be done virtually or in absentia; it may be awarded posthumously.
– No fee: Honorary doctorate degrees shall be conferred without any fee or expectation of payment from the recipient.
– Usage: The recipients are at liberty to use the approved nomenclature or title of the honorary doctorate degree such as Doctor of Law (Honoris Causa) or LL.D. (h.c.); or letters (Honoris Causa) or D.Sc. (h.c.) after their names. However, they are not permitted to use “Dr.”, which is reserved for holders of earned degrees and medical professionals. Additionally, they are not permitted to use the honorary doctorate degree to practice as scholars or professionals, oversee administrative units, or supervise research work.
– Orientation: All awarding universities shall provide both written and verbal orientation to recipients on how to use the award.
– Publication of records: All universities shall regularly publish names of honorary doctorate degree recipients on their official website and make it accessible to the public, in order to uphold transparency.
– Revocation policy: All awarding universities shall provide a formal mechanism to rescind awards if a recipient is convicted of fraud, or has engaged in any unethical conduct that is inconsistent with the values of the awarding institution.
The guidelines align with the Keffi Declaration of 2012 by the Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities.
Prof. Ribadu emphasised that all eligible universities must adhere strictly to the framework, with sanctions for any violations.