In a bold move to protect the credibility of Nigeria’s higher education system, the National Universities Commission (NUC) has exposed 32 organisations operating as mills for honorary doctorate degrees. The Executive Secretary of the NUC, Prof. Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, announced the findings during a press briefing in Abuja, emphasising that this trend undermines academic integrity and public trust.
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Unmasking the Degree Mills
The NUC’s investigation uncovered a troubling network of unaccredited institutions abusing honorary doctorate titles. These 32 “degree mills” comprise 10 foreign universities, 4 unlicensed Nigerian universities, 15 professional bodies with no power to award degrees, and 3 institutions that don’t legally confer academic titles.
Some of these outfits are even granting fake professorships, according to the NUC’s report. Prof. Ribadu described the situation as deeply concerning — these illicit bodies are turning honorary doctorate awards into a commercial business.
Misuse of “Dr” Title and Legal Violations
One of the gravest issues raised by the NUC is the widespread abuse of the “Dr” title by recipients of honorary degrees. The commission says that many recipients present themselves as full doctors, misleadingly equating themselves with scholars who earned their degrees through rigorous academic work.
This misuse violates the Keffi Declaration, a 2012 agreement by Nigerian vice-chancellors that prohibits awarding honorary doctorates to serving public officials and warns recipients against using “Dr” without clarity.
Prof. Ribadu was blunt: using “Dr” based on an honorary degree without stating it’s honorary “amounts to false representation” and could even attract legal consequences under Nigeria’s fraud-related laws.
New Rules, New Crackdown
To curb the abuse, the NUC has developed national guidelines for awarding and using honorary doctorates. These guidelines will clarify how recipients should legitimately display their titles — for example, using “Doctor of Literature (Honoris Causa)” or “D.Litt. (h.c.)” instead of adopting “Dr.” as a prefix.
The NUC is also imposing strict limits on what honorary degree holders can do. They’re barred from teaching, supervising research, or taking on academic roles based solely on an honorary title.
In a further tightening of regulation, the commission has banned the awarding of honorary degrees to serving public officials — a major step, given that many of the abuses involved political figures. The NUC has warned that it will work with law-enforcement agencies to sanction both the institutions and individuals involved.
What Prompted the Investigation
The crackdown followed mounting public concern. In September 2025, Prof. Ribadu inaugurated a special committee to examine the “indiscriminate award and public use” of honorary doctorate titles. The committee, led by Prof. Kabiru Bala, used case studies, content analysis, and consultations with 27 Nigerian universities — as well as international comparisons — to assess how these titles are misused.
Their report showed rampant disregard for international best practices. Many of the naughty institutions were operating without oversight or merit, purely capitalising on the prestige associated with “doctorates.” Prof. Bala described the growing trend of degree mills as a serious threat to the dignity and value of academic awards.
Why It Matters
- Academic Integrity at Risk: When unqualified institutions sell honorary doctorates, it cheapens genuine academic achievement and disrespects scholars who earn their titles through hard work.
- Public Trust Erosion: Misleading use of “Dr” fuels confusion and mistrust in the education system.
- Legal Implications: Calling oneself “Dr” without disclosure may now be deemed fraudulent behaviour.
- Policy Reform: The crackdown signals a turning point — the NUC is no longer content with soft guidance; it’s demanding accountability.
Conclusion
The NUC’s exposure of 32 illegal institutions abusing the honorary doctorate system marks a watershed moment. With new rules, public warnings, and law enforcement on alert, this could be the beginning of a nationwide clean-up — one aimed at restoring honour, credibility, and trust in Nigeria’s higher education system.
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