The Federal Government has approved a new policy aimed at curbing the misuse and politicisation of honorary degrees by universities across Nigeria.
Minister of Education Tunji Alausa announced the decision following the Federal Executive Council meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu.
The policy is designed to introduce stricter controls over how honorary degrees are awarded, particularly to public office holders and prominent individuals.
Alausa said the government was concerned about the growing trend of indiscriminate conferment of honorary doctorate degrees by some tertiary institutions, describing it as damaging to the credibility of the education system.
He explained that although discussions around regulating honorary degrees date back to 2012, previous efforts lacked strong legal backing and enforcement mechanisms.
Under the new policy, only universities with the authority to award doctoral degrees would be permitted to confer honorary doctorates.
“Any university that is not offering PhDs cannot award honorary doctorate degrees. Doing so will amount to a violation of the law, and there will be consequences, including sanctions against the vice chancellor,” Alausa said.
The minister added that all institutions must now seek clearance from the National Universities Commission before awarding honorary degrees to any individual.
According to him, the commission will review and approve all proposed recipients to ensure that only deserving persons are honoured, effectively ending what he described as arbitrary awards.
Alausa also warned against the misuse of academic titles, stating that individuals who falsely claim honorary degrees would face prosecution.
“If any individual claims an honorary degree that was not duly awarded, such a person can be prosecuted. We are determined to restore integrity to the system,” he said.
He explained that the reforms, which took effect from April 20 after FEC approval, are part of broader efforts to restore credibility and discipline within Nigeria’s higher education sector.
The minister noted that while informal use of honorary titles may be difficult to control in social settings, strict enforcement would apply in official and formal engagements.
The government reiterated its commitment to strengthening academic standards and ensuring that honorary recognitions are based on merit and properly regulated procedures.
Alausa also disclosed that the Federal Executive Council approved the creation of a National Research and Innovation Development Fund.
The fund, expected to generate about $500 million annually, is aimed at promoting collaboration between universities, research institutions, and industry stakeholders to drive innovation and national development.
