The Federal Government has approved a new policy aimed at curbing the growing misuse and politicisation of honorary degrees by tertiary institutions across the country.
Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu.
Alausa, who addressed journalists alongside the Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Ahmed, said the new policy introduces strict conditions for universities seeking to award honorary doctorate degrees.
According to him, institutions that do not run accredited PhD programmes will no longer be allowed 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,” the minister said.
He explained that all universities must now obtain clearance from the National Universities Commission before conferring honorary degrees on any individual.
Under the new framework, the commission will screen and approve all nominees to ensure that only deserving individuals are honoured, thereby ending what the government described as indiscriminate awards.
Alausa also warned that individuals who falsely parade honorary degrees not properly awarded by recognised institutions could 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 stated.
The minister noted that although concerns over the abuse of honorary degrees had been raised by university administrators since 2012, enforcement remained weak due to the absence of legal backing.
He said the reforms, which took effect from April 20 following FEC approval, are intended to restore credibility to Nigeria’s higher education system and strengthen accountability in the use of academic titles.
On the use of academic titles, Alausa explained that while informal usage in social settings may be difficult to regulate, government would strictly enforce compliance in official and formal engagements.
The minister also revealed that the Federal Executive Council approved the establishment of a National Research and Innovation Development Fund expected to generate about $500 million annually to support collaboration among research institutions, academia and industry.
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