By Samuel Abasiekong-Abasiekong
Nigeria Federal Ministry of Education has put a stop on the proliferation of the prefix ‘Dr’ as title annexed to names of those awarded the ‘Honoris’ or ‘Honorary Causa’ Degrees by universities.
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, announced the ban on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja following approval by the Federal Executive Council.
Nigeria education boss warned that flouting this order will be rated by the Federal Government as fraud perpetrated by the issuing institution and the recipient
The decision, Alausa said was taken to curb the growing abuse and politicisation of Honorary Awards, which he noted has increasingly been used for political patronage and financial gains.
“Recipients of Honorary Degrees should not prefix Dr. to their names in official, academic or professional usage. The misrepresentation of Honorary Degrees as a credential earned through academic accomplishment shall be considered as academic fraud.
The recent trend we have seen on the award of Honorary Degrees has revealed a growing abuse and politicisation of this academic privilege,”
Under the new policy, recipients are prohibited from writing “Dr” to their names in any official, academic or professional setting. Instead, they are required to write their names and end it with Honorary Causa or Honoris Causa.
Alausa further said the Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission will oversee enforcement and monitor compliance during convocation ceremonies.
The directive also limits the categories of Honorary Degrees Nigerian universities can confer to four: Doctor of Laws (LL.D), Doctor of Letters (D.Lit), Doctor of Science (D.Sc), and Doctor of Humanities (D.Arts).
The minister further disclosed that the government would publish an annual list of legitimate recipients as part of efforts to protect the integrity of academic qualifications in Nigeria.
