NUC Cracks Down on Fake Honorary Degrees, Issues 16-Point Guidelines with Sanctions

By Ifeyinwa Austine

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has warned Nigerian universities against the rampant misuse of honorary doctorate degrees, promising sanctions for violators under new 16-point guidelines.

I n a statement issued Thursday, the rules align with the Education Act (CAP E3, 2004) and the 2012 Keffi Declaration signed by all vice-chancellors. They target the “indiscriminate conferment” eroding academic credibility.

The NUC stressed that honorary doctorates whether local or foreign are ceremonial only, not equivalent to earned PhDs. Universities must follow strict conferment processes to safeguard the system’s global reputation.

All degree-awarding institutions face regulatory penalties for non-compliance, protecting Nigeria’s higher education integrity.