₦airaland Forum

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has issued new guidelines regulating the award of honorary degrees in Nigerian universities, banning recipients from using the “Dr.” title.

The commission said the move aims at curbing what it described as the indiscriminate conferment of honorary awards and preserving the integrity of academic distinctions.

Under the new rules, only universities that have graduated their first set of PhD students are eligible to confer honorary degrees.

The NUC stressed that recipients of honorary degrees must not prefix their names with “Dr.” but instead use appropriate designations after their names, such as Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) – D.Sc (H.C). It added that the “Dr.” title remains strictly reserved for individuals who have earned academic doctorates or are qualified medical professionals.

The guidelines also prohibit any form of payment or expectation of financial contribution from recipients, insisting that honorary degrees must be awarded strictly on merit and free of charge.

To further regulate the process, universities are now limited to a maximum of three honorary degrees per convocation ceremony.

The commission also excluded self-nominated individuals and serving elected or appointed public officials from receiving such awards.

As part of transparency measures, universities are required to publish the names of all honorary degree recipients on their official websites and establish a revocation policy to withdraw awards from individuals found guilty of fraud or unethical conduct.

The NUC clarified that honorary degrees do not confer professional privileges, including the right to practise in regulated fields, supervise academic research, or hold administrative positions within universities.

Reiterating its stance, the commission warned that compliance with the guidelines is mandatory, noting that institutions that violate the rules risk facing regulatory sanctions.

The NUC added that the measures are part of ongoing efforts to safeguard the credibility and global reputation of Nigeria’s university system.

Bakrabas:
Wahala for the lecturers that are still using "Sir" after many years in service.

BlackViper:
https://thenationonlineng.net/nuc-bars-honorary-degree-holders-from-using-dr-title/

amaridigital:
So who exactly has the right to use Dr?
If NUC claims only PhD holders have the right to use 'Dr' then I expect the Nigerian Medical Association to take them to court and also claim only medical doctors can use the title.
Technological and scientific advancement plus research are changing our world with new discoveries and innovations coming out almost every minute but the best Nigeria could offer is to fight for titles. Shame!

Helinuse:
😅😅

The three most bastardized titles in Nigeria are:

1. Dr. (Hononary)
2. Chief
3. Igwe

If you just go Benin republic, or any private university in Nigeria, and donate 500k, dem don nack you better Dr. Honorary Causa.

If you just buy Toyota Highlander, people of your community go begin dey call you Chief.

If you mistakenly go beer parlor, go buy them 3 cartons of beer, add one small goat meat, tomorrow morning, dem go gather for your house, crown you IGWE

If you do the three of them, they will call you a Philanthropist.

😅😅😅

Breaker001:
If NUC do not want them to use the title, why give to them the honarary degree in the first place?
Stopping the recipients from using the title is like giving a plastic spoon to somebody and then you stop the person from using the spoon because it is a plastic spoon.
I would suggest that NUC should come up with a new title for these honorary degree recipients, something like "H.Dr", "HD" etc 😎

Tenses:
Clowns

Nigeria is burning all these 1diats care about is title.

amaridigital:
So who exactly has the right to use Dr?
If NUC claims only PhD holders have the right to use 'Dr' then I expect the Nigerian Medical Association to take them to court and also claim only medical doctors can use the title.
Technological and scientific advancement plus research are changing our world with new discoveries and innovations coming out almost every minute but the best Nigeria could offer is to fight for titles. Shame!

BOOKWORMLUX:
They should come qnd stop me from using it.
If they want me to stop using the title, they should refund the money I paid to get it.

Quarterpast:
You would have given me that money instead.

ColdHunter:
Excellent idea. Well thought.

There must be a way to distinguish the Honorary from those who actually toiled and studied for theirs.

CaptainGo:
What exactly do you want NUC to do about 'burning Nigeria'?