By George OPARA
President Ahmed Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government on Wednesday banned holders of honorary degrees from prefixing “Dr” to their names in official, academic, or professional usage.
It affirmed that the use of the title by the recipients constitutes a misrepresentation of academic credentials, which will henceforth be treated as academic fraud, with attendant legal and reputational consequences.
Accompanied by the Minister of State for Education, Prof Suwaiba Ahmad, Alausa said the FEC approved a flat policy for the award and use of honorary degrees by Nigerian universities.
It declared that the use of the title by such recipients constitutes a misrepresentation of academic credentials, which will henceforth be treated as academic fraud, with attendant legal and reputational consequences.
The policy, he explained, is made to end what he described as decades of indiscriminate conferral of degrees for political patronage and financial gain, and to restore public confidence in the integrity of academic titles.
He said, “The recent trend we’ve seen with the award of honorary degrees has revealed a growing abuse and politicisation of this academic privilege.
“We’ve seen awards being used for political patronage, for financial gain, as well as the conferral of awards on serving public officials, which, as part of the ethics of honorary degree awards, should not happen.”
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