The Federal Government banned recipients of honorary degrees from using the “Dr” title on Wednesday. Minister of Education Dr Tunji Alausa announced the new policy in Abuja. The directive prohibits prefixing “Dr” before names in official, academic, or professional settings.
Alausa stated that such usage amounted to misrepresentation of academic qualifications. He added that the government would treat violations as academic fraud with legal consequences. The policy aims to protect the integrity of earned doctoral degrees.
Under the new regulation, recipients must use appropriate post-nominal designations after their names. They can append titles such as Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) or D.Sc (H.C). The “Dr” title remains reserved strictly for holders of earned PhDs and medical practitioners.
Alausa explained that honorary degrees must clearly indicate their honorary nature on certificates. He warned universities against indiscriminate awards. Only approved institutions that have produced PhD graduates can confer such degrees.
The Federal Government acted to curb the growing abuse of honorary titles across the country. Many politicians and public figures had adopted the “Dr” prefix after receiving honorary awards. Alausa stressed that the measure would restore public confidence in academic distinctions.
The directive also reinforces earlier bans on awarding honorary degrees to serving public officials. Recipients can no longer use the title to practise as scholars, supervise research, or head academic units. No immediate reactions emerged from prominent honorary degree holders.
