The National Universities Commission (NUC) has raised concern over the growing misuse and indiscriminate conferment of honorary doctorate degrees by Nigerian universities, warning that sanctions will be imposed on institutions and individuals that violate its regulations.
In a statement on Thursday, the commission announced a comprehensive 16-point guideline regulating the award and proper use of honorary doctorates.
NUC said the framework is grounded in the Education Act (National Minimum Standards and Establishment of Institutions), CAP E3, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (2004), as well as the commission’s statutory mandate.
The commission stressed that all universities and degree-awarding institutions are required to comply strictly with the provisions.
It would be recalled that last year, the NUC’s Executive Secretary, Abdullahi Ribadu, raised similar concerns during the presentation of a report on the “awards and public misuse of Honorary Doctorate degree” in Abuja.
Ribadu disclosed that findings from the investigation revealed that 61 institutions and bodies across the country were involved in the indiscriminate conferment of honorary doctorate degrees, underscoring the scale of the problem and the need for stricter regulation.
The commission said honorary doctorate degrees, whether awarded locally or internationally, are strictly ceremonial and must not be treated as equivalent to earned academic doctorates.
“All stakeholders must comply fully with the procedures for conferment and use of honorary doctorates. Regulatory sanctions will be applied against any institution or individual found in breach of these rules,” the statement said.
DAILY TRUST.
