The Federal Government has approved a new set of guidelines regulating the award and use of honorary doctorate degrees in a bid to strengthen integrity and restore credibility to Nigeria’s university system.
The policy, which received the approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), introduces stricter conditions for the nomination, conferment, usage and possible revocation of honorary doctoral degrees awarded by Nigerian universities.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo.
According to the statement, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said the new framework was designed to tackle the growing abuse, commercialisation and misuse of honorary academic awards across the country.
Alausa explained that the guidelines were developed by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and subsequently approved by the Federal Executive Council as part of broader efforts to promote transparency and uphold academic standards.
“The Federal Government has approved comprehensive guidelines for the award and use of honorary doctorate degrees in Nigeria to strengthen academic integrity, transparency, and the credibility of the university system,” the minister said.
He added that the policy was introduced in response to increasing concerns over the indiscriminate conferment and improper use of honorary degrees, stressing that the new measures would help preserve the value and prestige associated with such awards.
