NUC Prohibits Honorary Degree Recipients from Using ‘Dr’ Title to Preserve Academic Standards

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has introduced sweeping new guidelines aimed at curbing the indiscriminate award and misuse of honorary doctorate degrees in Nigerian universities, explicitly prohibiting recipients from prefixing their names with the title “Dr.”

The regulations, approved in February 2026 and circulated to all vice-chancellors, seek to protect the integrity and global reputation of Nigeria’s higher education system by drawing a clear line between earned academic qualifications and ceremonial honours.

Under the new rules, only universities that have already graduated at least one set of PhD students will be permitted to confer honorary degrees. This restriction excludes newer institutions and non-university bodies that previously issued such awards.

Universities are now limited to awarding a maximum of three honorary degrees per convocation ceremony, ensuring the honour remains rare and meaningful rather than routine.

Key Restrictions on Title Usage and Privileges

The NUC has made it clear that recipients of honorary degrees must not use “Dr” as a prefix. Instead, they may only append the full designation after their names, such as Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) or D.Sc. (h.c.). The title “Dr” remains strictly reserved for individuals who have earned academic doctorates through rigorous study or qualified medical professionals.

The guidelines also ban any form of payment, donation, or financial expectation from recipients. Honorary degrees must be awarded purely on merit and free of charge.

Self-nominations are prohibited, and serving elected or appointed public officials are ineligible while holding office. Selection processes must be transparent, based on exceptional contributions to society, scholarship, creative fields, or national development. Awards should generally be conferred in person.

Importantly, honorary degrees confer no professional or academic privileges. Recipients cannot use them to supervise research, practise in regulated professions, or hold academic or administrative positions in universities.

The NUC has warned that violations by institutions or individuals will attract regulatory sanctions, including possible penalties under the Education (National Minimum Standards and Establishment of Institutions) Act.

Addressing a Growing Problem

Nigeria has seen a sharp rise in honorary doctorates in recent years, often conferred during high-profile ceremonies on politicians, business leaders, entertainers, and public figures. Informed observers have long opined that many awards are linked to influence, donations, or self-promotion rather than genuine merit, leading to widespread “title inflation.”

In 2025, the NUC investigated and exposed numerous “honorary degree mills,” including dozens of unapproved entities issuing such awards. This prompted broader regulatory action, including an earlier ban on awarding honorary degrees to serving public officials.

The new guidelines align Nigeria more closely with international best practices, where prestigious institutions like Harvard, Oxford, and Cambridge award honorary degrees as symbolic recognitions of outstanding service without equating them to earned PhDs.

Many academics and education stakeholders have welcomed the move as a necessary step to restore dignity to hard-earned doctoral qualifications and reduce public confusion.

Some past recipients and ceremony organisers have expressed concern that the rules could diminish the perceived prestige of honorary awards. However, the NUC maintains that clear distinctions will ultimately strengthen the honour’s value.

For universities, the guidelines demand more rigorous internal nomination and approval processes and Vice-chancellors must ensure full compliance or risk sanctions.

As convocation season approaches, institutions are expected to align their practices with the new rules. The NUC has directed strict adherence and indicated it will monitor implementation closely.