The National Universities Commission (NUC) has implemented a sweeping reform to protect the integrity of academic titles in Nigeria. Under the new NUC Honorary Doctorate Degree Guidelines, the commission seeks to eliminate the indiscriminate conferment of honorary degrees and the unauthorized use of professional prefixes.
The Restriction on the “Dr.” Title
The most significant change in these guidelines involves the use of titles. Recipient of honorary awards must no longer use the prefix “Dr.” before their names. The NUC maintains that this title is strictly reserved for medical doctors and individuals who have earned a PhD through academic research.
Instead, awardees must designate their status after their names using the suffix “h.c.” (Honoris Causa). For example, a recipient of a Doctor of Science award should be addressed as Name, D.Sc. (h.c.). This ensures a clear distinction between earned academic achievements and honorary recognition.
Eligibility and Exclusions
The NUC Honorary Doctorate Degree Guidelines establish strict criteria for who can receive these honours. The following groups and practices are now officially excluded:
- Public Officials: Serving elected or appointed public officials are ineligible for honorary degrees during their tenure.
- Self-Nomination: The commission prohibits individuals from nominating themselves for an award.
- Monetary Exchange: Universities cannot grant awards in exchange for “donations” or fees.
New Standards for Universities
To maintain high standards, the NUC has also restricted which institutions can grant these honours. Only universities that have successfully graduated their first set of PhD students may confer honorary doctorates. Furthermore, an institution cannot award more than three honorary degrees during a single convocation ceremony.
These regulations ensure that honorary degrees remain a symbol of genuine contribution to society rather than a commodity for political or financial gain.
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