New NUC Guidelines Restrict Honorary Awards, Ban Misuse of Academic Titles

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has introduced comprehensive reforms governing the award of honorary degrees in Nigerian universities, aiming to strengthen academic standards and prevent long-standing abuses.

Under the new regulations, recipients of honorary degrees are prohibited from using the “Dr.” title, a measure the NUC says is essential to preserve public trust in academic qualifications. Instead, awardees are expected to use clearly designated post-nominal titles such as Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) – D.Sc (H.C), which clearly differentiate honorary awards from earned doctoral degrees.

The guidelines also set higher eligibility standards for universities themselves. Only institutions that have successfully graduated their first batch of PhD students will now be allowed to confer honorary degrees, ensuring that such awards are issued by academically mature and research-capable institutions.

To curb commercialization, the commission has banned any form of payment or donation linked to honorary awards, mandating that they must be strictly merit-based. Other key restrictions include a maximum of three honorary degrees per convocation, exclusion of self-nominated candidates, and barring serving public officials from consideration. Universities must also publicly list recipients on their websites and establish revocation procedures for cases involving misconduct or fraud.

The NUC clarified that honorary degrees do not grant professional or academic privileges, and recipients cannot supervise research or occupy university administrative roles based solely on such honours. The commission warned that non-compliant institutions risk regulatory sanctions, highlighting its commitment to restoring integrity and prestige to Nigeria’s higher education system.