|By Babatunji Wusu
The National Universities Commission (NUC) has uncovered 32 fake entities fraudulently selling honorary doctorate degrees across Nigeria, as the regulator moves to halt the growing abuse of academic titles.
The Commission issued a stern warning to universities and Nigerians on Monday, announcing an imminent nationwide clampdown on illegal award-granting bodies and individuals parading themselves as “Dr” based on honorary titles.
In a statement signed by its Executive Secretary, Prof. Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, the NUC described the trend as a “growing national concern,” noting that honorary degrees—reserved for outstanding achievements—are now being commercialised and issued by illegal operators running degree mills.
According to Ribadu, an NUC-led investigation exposed 10 unaccredited foreign universities, 4 unlicensed local universities, 15 professional bodies without degree-awarding powers, and 3 non-degree institutions involved in issuing honorary doctorates. Some of these bodies, he added, also award fake professorships, further eroding the nation’s academic credibility.
Ribadu condemned the rising number of recipients who use honorary titles to pose as PhD holders, warning that such behaviour violates Nigerian fraud laws.
“Using the title ‘Dr’ based on an honorary degree without clarification amounts to false representation,” he stressed. “This trend threatens the integrity of our universities and diminishes public trust in genuine academic qualifications.”
He also criticised the widespread violation of the 2012 Keffi Declaration, which bars universities from awarding honorary degrees to serving public officials and forbids recipients from parading themselves with the “Dr” title.
Reaffirming the NUC’s powers under the Education (National Minimum Standards) Act, Ribadu said only legally approved universities can award honorary doctorates—and even then, recipients may only use formats such as Doctor of Literature (Honoris Causa) or D.Litt (h.c.), not the professional title “Dr.”
They are also prohibited from using such awards to supervise research, practise as scholars or professionals, or hold academic administrative roles.
Ribadu disclosed that a national guideline on the award and use of honorary doctorates has been finalised and will soon be published. Once released, the NUC—working with security agencies—will launch an aggressive crackdown on fake degree mills and individuals misusing honorary titles.
He called on Nigerians, law enforcement agencies, and higher-education stakeholders to support the effort to “restore honour to honorary degrees” and uphold the dignity of the country’s academic system.
