The Federal Government has prohibited recipients of honorary degrees from using the title “Dr” in any official, academic, or professional setting, in a move aimed at preserving the integrity of academic honors.
Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, announced the directive on Wednesday while addressing State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa in Abuja following a Federal Executive Council meeting.
Alausa explained that the decision was prompted by increasing concerns over the misuse and politicisation of honorary degrees across the country.
“The recent trend we’ve seen with the award of honorary degrees has revealed a growing abuse of this academic privilege,” he said. “These awards are being used for political patronage, financial gain, and even conferred on serving public officials, which goes against established ethical standards.”
Under the new policy, individuals awarded honorary doctorates must no longer prefix their names with “Dr.” Instead, they are required to clearly indicate the honorary nature of the degree by placing the full designation after their names.
The government says the measure is part of broader efforts to restore credibility to Nigeria’s academic system and curb the exploitation of honorary titles for personal or political advantage.
