FG APPROVES STRICT GUIDELINES ON HONORARY DOCTORATE AWARDS TO RESTORE CREDIBILITY IN UNIVERSITIES
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
The Federal Government has approved new guidelines regulating the award and use of honorary doctorate degrees in Nigerian universities as part of efforts to strengthen academic integrity and restore confidence in the country’s higher education system.
This was contained in a press release issued by the Federal Ministry of Education and dated June 10, 2026.
According to the statement, the policy was approved following recommendations developed by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and subsequently endorsed by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, disclosed that the new framework is aimed at promoting transparency and safeguarding the credibility and international reputation of Nigerian universities.
The Ministry said the decision followed increasing concerns over the abuse, commercialization, and misuse of honorary doctorate awards, which it noted had continued to diminish the value and prestige attached to academic honours in the country.
Under the newly approved guidelines, only approved public and private universities will be eligible to confer honorary doctorate degrees.
The policy also stipulates that institutions must have graduated at least their first set of PhD students before becoming qualified to award honorary doctorates.
According to the document, honorary doctorate awards are expected to recognise exceptional achievement, sustained contributions, institutional values, and diversity.
The framework further introduces standards for nomination, approval, conferment, usage, and possible revocation of honorary doctorate degrees across Nigerian universities.
Part of the criteria outlined requires universities to adopt clear and transparent selection processes with balanced representation across gender, race, nationality, and academic disciplines while avoiding conflicts of interest.
In addition, institutions are expected to publicly disclose procedures for selecting and awarding honorary doctorate recipients through their official platforms.
The Ministry stated that the guidelines take immediate effect and urged universities and stakeholders to ensure full compliance in order to preserve the integrity of Nigeria’s university system.
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