FG Cracks Down on Honorary Degree Abuse, Restores Integrity to University Honours System
Abuja, Nigeria,May 7, 2026
The Federal Government has approved major reforms to regulate the award and use of honorary degrees in Nigerian universities, aimed at restoring academic integrity and strengthening confidence in the higher education system.
Briefing journalists after the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja, the Honourable Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, described the policy as a decisive move to curb the abuse, politicisation, and commercialisation of honorary academic titles.
Under the new framework, honorary degrees must be clearly designated as honoris causa and cannot be used as earned academic qualifications. The policy also prohibits recipients from using the title “Dr” in any official, academic, or professional capacity based solely on honorary awards, with violations to be treated as academic fraud.
The reforms further state that honorary degrees will not qualify recipients for academic appointments, professional certifications, or regulated practice. Only four recognised categories of honorary degrees will now be permitted, and such awards can only be conferred by universities with established doctoral programmes.
Oversight and enforcement will be handled by the National Universities Commission, which will also monitor compliance and publish an annual verified register of legitimate honorary degree recipients.
The Federal Ministry of Education reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the credibility of Nigeria’s academic system and ensuring that university honours retain their true meaning and value.
