The National Universities Commission, NUC, has issued a stern warning to Nigerian universities against the indiscriminate conferment of honorary doctorate degrees, threatening sanctions for non-compliance.
In a statement, the NUC outlined 16 guidelines for awarding and using honorary doctorate degrees, emphasizing the need to preserve academic integrity and credibility.
The commission expressed concern over the misuse of honorary titles, stressing that these degrees are distinctions, not equivalent to earned academic doctorates.
Institutions found violating the guidelines will face regulatory sanctions, as will individuals misusing honorary titles.
The NUC directive aligns with the Keffi Declaration of 2012, signed by all vice-chancellors, and is part of efforts to protect the Nigerian university system’s reputation.
