₦airaland Forum

The Federal Government has barred recipients of honorary degrees from adding “Dr” to their names.

Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, announced this at a media briefing at Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.

He said the decision was taken at the Federal Executive Council meeting, which held on April 30.

Alausa said the move was aimed at ending decades of indiscriminate conferment of degrees for political patronage and financial gain.

“The recent trend we’ve seen with the award of honorary degrees has revealed a growing abuse and politicisation of this academic privilege. We’ve seen awards being used for political patronage, for financial gain, as well as the conferral of awards on serving public officials, which, as part of the ethics of honorary degree awards, should not happen.”

He said universities that violate the FEC decision will face sanctions, adding that the Vice Chancellors had been directed to streamline the process.

He added that going forward, universities will have to seek approval from the Nigerian University Commission (NUC) before they can award the degrees.

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Good thing after jollof rice

Long overdue, even a Native Dr sef would have added the Dr title to their names

Finally, a move that restores some respect to academic titles! the government is right to stop the indiscriminate conferment of degrees for political favors or money. It’s about time we differentiate between years of hard research and a title given out for political patronage. By involving the NUC and threatening sanctions against universities that break these rules, the Minister is effectively cleaning up a system that has been abused for way too long. It’s a solid win for academic integrity.

Nice one, let's call a spade a spade

Why does universities need approval before confering an honorary degree on anyone? The minister should provide guidelines and allow the universities be.

This is good…. A very good move

How does he intend to enforce it? If you believe it's feasible, please specify which Nigerian law will be applied to litigate the edict.

OUK, pls be guided by this new policy.

Good step taken in the right direction.

This is the right thing to do.

GboyegaD:
Why does universities need approval before confering an honorary degree on anyone? The minister should provide guidelines and allow the universities be.

Award degrees not confer degrees. 2 different things.

This is very helpful to know The real doctor

GboyegaD:
Why does universities need approval before confering an honorary degree on anyone? The minister should provide guidelines and allow the universities be.

So you want one useless university to give PORTABLE a doctor title before you will complain

Universities are looking for money and they can make anyone a doctor as long as they will benefit

very good, some nincompoop with no education adding dr as initials is a slap to those who worked hard for it

Long overdue. Allow only academic Ph.D holders to use ut

GboyegaD:
Why does universities need approval before confering an honorary degree on anyone? The minister should provide guidelines and allow the universities be.

Abi oooo, since you are the one funding the university, that is why you must go against federal government.

Nice one!

You will see an individual that can not write O with the bottom of a bottle calling himself/herself Dr. Some even call themselves Prof.

They should also stop the use of honorable and Excellency because there is nothing honourable and excellent about them.

I already had one recently,so how is it going to be recognized

I think the FG didn't get this right

Nigeria's first armed robber
Dr ishola oyenusi

Then what is the motive behind the idea of awarding it in the first place?

All those Dr. Politicians should drop it.

What about honorary doctorate degrees that some politicians, pastors and business men brought from some foreign Universities especially those ones in Benin Republic. Hope they can still use the title "Dr"

GboyegaD:
Why does universities need approval before confering an honorary degree on anyone? The minister should provide guidelines and allow the universities be.

Is it not the same guidelines that has been abused?
I no just understand una baseless criticisms.

Can a native doctor use the title 'Doctor'...?

erniok:
OUK, pls be guided by this new policy.

Instead of reprimanding the ignorant minister who knows nothing different between making laws and a policy.

Better, let any one who wants to bear Dr...be ready to do research and write thesis. And defend it

I think this decision is in order cos the honorary title was being abused

illicit:
Can a native doctor use the title 'Doctor'...?

native herbalist not native doctor

Dr. Chris Okafor
Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu
Dr. Patience Jonathan
Dr. Musiliu Akinsanya

There's one other clown who called himself a Professor when his subordinate, Mc Oluomo got a Dr. title.