The Federal Government has drawn a firm line on the growing misuse of honorary degrees, banning recipients from attaching the title “Dr” to their names in any official, academic, or professional setting.
The announcement was made on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, shortly after the Federal Executive Council meeting.
Alausa said the decision followed rising concerns over how honorary degrees are being handed out and exploited across the country.
“We are seeing a disturbing pattern where these honours are turned into tools for political patronage and even financial transactions,” he said. “In some cases, they are awarded to serving public officials, which goes against the ethical standards guiding such recognitions.”
Under the new directive, honorary degree holders are no longer allowed to prefix their names with “Dr.” Instead, they must clearly indicate the full honorary title after their names, rather than presenting it as an earned academic qualification.
