The National Universities Commission (NUC) has revealed that 32 fake entities in Nigeria are fraudulently selling honorary doctorate degrees.
The commission warned that the growing abuse of honorary degrees threatens the credibility of the nation’s academic system and announced plans for a nationwide crackdown on illegal institutions and individuals misusing the title.
In a statement signed by the NUC Executive Secretary, Prof Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, the commission described the commercialization of honorary degrees as “a matter of growing national concern.” Honorary degrees, intended to celebrate exceptional achievements, are increasingly being abused by illegal institutions operating as degree mills across Nigeria.
The NUC-led investigation identified 10 unaccredited foreign universities, four unlicensed local universities, 15 professional bodies without degree-awarding powers, and three non-degree-awarding institutions that have been conferring honorary doctorate degrees. Some of these entities also issue fake professorships, further undermining public trust in Nigerian academic qualifications.
Prof Ribadu condemned individuals who use honorary awards to falsely present themselves as PhD holders, stressing that such conduct is unethical and punishable under Nigerian fraud laws. “Using the title ‘Dr’ based on an honorary degree without clarification amounts to false representation,” he said. The practice diminishes public confidence in genuine academic accomplishments.
He also highlighted widespread disregard for the 2012 Keffi Declaration, which forbids universities from awarding honorary degrees to serving public officials and bars recipients from using the “Dr” title. Only legally approved public and private universities may award honorary doctorates, and recipients must use approved nomenclature such as Doctor of Literature (Honoris Causa) or D.Litt (h.c.), without presenting themselves as PhD holders.
Prof Ribadu disclosed that the NUC has completed national guidelines for the award and use of honorary doctorate degrees. Once published, the commission will work with law enforcement agencies to clamp down on illegal degree mills. He appealed to the public, higher education stakeholders, and government agencies to support the effort to “restore honour to honorary degrees” and defend the dignity of Nigerian universities.
