The Federal Government has approved a new policy framework aimed at curbing the abuse and politicisation of honorary degrees across Nigerian universities.
Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents following the latest meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), chaired by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Alausa, who addressed the press alongside Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Ahmed, expressed concern over what he described as the increasing misuse of honorary academic titles by some tertiary institutions.
He explained that although efforts to regulate the practice date back to 2012, enforcement had been ineffective due to the absence of a binding legal framework.
Under the newly approved policy, universities must meet strict eligibility criteria before awarding honorary degrees.
“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,” he said.
The minister further announced that all institutions are now required to obtain prior approval from the National Universities Commission (NUC) before conferring honorary degrees.
The NUC will also screen all proposed recipients to ensure that awards are granted only to individuals deemed deserving, effectively ending indiscriminate conferment.
Alausa warned that individuals who falsely claim honorary degrees risk prosecution, noting that government agencies will verify such credentials directly with awarding institutions.
“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 said.
He added that while informal use of academic titles in social settings may be difficult to regulate, the government will enforce strict compliance in official and professional contexts.
The reforms, which took effect from April 20, 2026 following FEC approval, are part of broader efforts to restore credibility and discipline within Nigeria’s higher education system.
In a related development, the minister revealed that the council also approved the establishment of a National Research and Innovation Development Fund, aimed at mobilising $500 million annually to support collaboration among research institutions, academia, and industry.
The Federal Government said the measures underscore its commitment to strengthening standards, accountability, and global competitiveness in the education sector.
