The National Universities Commission (NUC) has warned against the growing abuse of honorary doctorate titles, stating that using the prefix ‘Dr’ without proper clarification amounts to misrepresentation.

The NUC Executive Secretary, Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, made this known when he received the findings of the inquiry into the conferment and public misuse of Honorary Doctorate degrees by awardees in Abuja on Friday.

Ribadu described the situation as a danger to the credibility of the country’s tertiary education system.

He said the investigation revealed 32 organisations operating as honorary doctorate–issuing mills nationwide.

These, according to him, comprise 10 unapproved foreign universities, four unaccredited local universities, 15 professional associations lacking the authority to confer degrees, and other bodies without degree-granting status.

He pointed out that the number “may not be exhaustive,” adding that some of these entities were also involved in issuing bogus professorship titles.

“The findings are deeply concerning. This is especially so because many institutions do not comply with the Keffi Declaration of 2012.

“This is the policy agreed upon by Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian universities to regulate the award of honorary doctorate degrees.

“It prohibits the award of honorary degrees to serving public officials and cautions recipients against using the title “Dr” without proper disclosure.

“This is not just a matter of ethics; it is a matter of law,” he stated.

He highlighted that such misuse undermined public trust, diminished the value of genuine academic degrees, and disrespects the hard work of scholars.

Repeating the legal framework guiding honorary recognitions, he stated that only approved public or private universities were permitted to confer honorary doctorate degrees, as empowered under the National Minimum Standards and Establishment Institutions Act.

Recipients, he said, may use designations such as D.Litt (h.c.) or Doctor of Literature (Honoris Causa) after their names, but must not use the title ‘Dr’, which is reserved for PhD holders and qualified medical and professional doctorate practitioners.

To restore credibility to the system, Ribadu announced that the commission had developed comprehensive national guidelines for awarding and using honorary doctorate degrees.

The guidelines, he said, would soon be made public.

Professor Ribadu confirmed that the Commission, in collaboration with law enforcement and other government agencies, would commence a nationwide clampdown on honorary degree mills.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Committee, Prof. Kabiru Bala said the committee was inaugurated on September 1 after its appointment on August 28.

Bala, also the firmer Vice Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, said the committee was tasked with probing growing petitions from citizens and stakeholders concerned about the “widespread award, use, and misuse’’ of honorary doctorates by recipients.

According to him, many honorees had allegedly used the titles to claim unearned academic status, attract undue prestige, or secure personal advantages, thereby undermining the integrity of Nigeria’s university system.

He explained that its investigation involved case studies, content analysis of public documents, and memoranda from 27 universities.

He said further that the international guidelines from regulatory bodies and universities in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, Europe, Africa, and Asia was also reviewed.

He said the committee found that while some Nigerian universities adhere to the 2022 Keffi Declaration, compliance remained inconsistent.

He said the report revealed significant deviations, including universities conferring awards on individuals currently in office, sometimes allegedly in exchange for financial inducements.