The National Universities Commission (NUC) has warned Nigerians against the misuse of honorary doctorate titles, saying anyone using “Dr” without proper clarification is engaging in false representation.
NUC Executive Secretary, Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, issued the warning in Abuja on Friday while receiving a report on the rising abuse of honorary doctorate awards across the country.
Ribadu said investigators uncovered 32 organisations operating as honorary degree mills — including 10 unaccredited foreign universities, four unlicensed local institutions, 15 professional bodies without degree-granting powers, and several others that also issue fake professorships.
He described the trend as a direct threat to the integrity of Nigeria’s higher education system, noting that many violators ignore the Keffi Declaration of 2012, which bars universities from awarding honorary degrees to serving public officials and prohibits recipients from using “Dr” without full disclosure.
According to him, only approved universities can confer honorary doctorates, and recipients may use designations like D.Litt (h.c.) or Doctor of Literature (Honoris Causa)—but not the title “Dr,” which is strictly for PhD holders and qualified medical or professional doctorate practitioners.
Ribadu revealed that new national guidelines on awarding and using honorary degrees had been completed and would soon be released.
He added that the NUC, working with law-enforcement agencies, will begin a nationwide clampdown on honorary degree mills.
