The Federal Government has barred recipients of honorary degrees from prefixing their names with the title “Dr”, in a move designed to safeguard the credibility and integrity of academic distinctions in Nigeria. The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced the directive on Wednesday during a press briefing at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, following the Federal Executive Council meeting held on 30 April.
Alausa said the clampdown was prompted by mounting concerns over the misuse and politicisation of honorary doctorates, warning that the growing trend has eroded the true value of such honours. “The recent trend we’ve seen with the award of honorary degrees has revealed a growing abuse and politicisation of this academic privilege,” he said.
“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 noted that the policy is intended to restore public confidence in academic titles and prevent honorary distinctions from being misrepresented as earned qualifications.
According to the minister, authorities have observed that some recipients have adopted the “Dr” prefix in ways that blur the line between academic achievement and ceremonial recognition. The Ministry of Education added that further regulatory guidelines will be issued to universities and other awarding bodies to ensure strict compliance with the new directive.