The Federal Government has prohibited recipients of honorary degrees from appending the title “Dr” to their names.
Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, made this known during a press briefing at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday.
He explained that the directive followed a decision reached at the Federal Executive Council meeting held on April 30.
Alausa said the move is intended to curb the long-standing misuse of honorary degrees, which he noted have increasingly been awarded for political patronage and financial incentives.
He expressed concern over the growing politicisation of the honours, including instances where they are conferred on serving public officials—an act he described as inconsistent with established academic ethics.
The Minister warned that universities that fail to comply with the directive would face sanctions. He also disclosed that Vice Chancellors have been instructed to tighten the process, adding that institutions must now obtain approval from the National Universities Commission before awarding honorary degrees.
