The Federal Government has banned recipients of honorary degrees from using the title “Dr” before their names in official, academic, or professional settings.
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, announced the directive in Abuja, stating that using the title without earning an academic doctorate would be treated as a misrepresentation of credentials and classified as academic fraud, with possible legal and reputational consequences.
Alausa said the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved a new policy to regulate the award and usage of honorary degrees in Nigerian universities, aimed at curbing long-standing abuse, commercialisation, and politicisation of such honours.
Under the new policy, beneficiaries of honorary degrees must instead include the full designation of the award after their names, such as “LL.D (Hons)” or “D.Lit (Honoris Causa),” rather than prefixing “Dr.”
The government also restricted honorary degrees to four categories: Doctor of Laws (LL.D), Doctor of Letters (D.Lit), Doctor of Science (D.Sc), and Doctor of Humanities (D.Arts).
In addition, universities without active PhD programmes are barred from awarding honorary degrees.
The minister noted that all such awards must clearly carry the term “honorary” or “Honoris Causa” on certificates and in references.
He added that the National Universities Commission (NUC) will enforce compliance, monitor convocation ceremonies, and publish an annual list of legitimate recipients.
Alausa said the move is intended to restore the integrity and public confidence in Nigeria’s academic qualifications.
