The Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, FCVSN, on Monday, 1st September, 2025, inaugurated a five- man committee, with the mandate to investigate the use and or misuse the title “honorary doctorate” or “Dr|” titles by the recipients from Nigerian universities.
The committee was set up, sequel an inquest from a journalist with DUBAWA, a fact-finding and verification platform of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), seeking clarification on the use of these honorary titles by individuals in Nigeria, who have received honorary doctorates from universities in Nigeria and abroad.
With the questions regarding its implications for professional integrity, public perception, and academic standards, Professor Ribadu approved the Committee chaired by former Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria and NUC Visiting Professor Kabiru Bala to probe into the situation.
Other members of the Committee include: Professors Haruna Lawal and Adebola Babatunde Ekanola, NUC Deputy Director in the Accreditation Directorate, Mrs. Uchenna Ngozi Okpara, while Mr. Nurudeen Umar-Musa is to serve as Member/ Secretary.
The Executive Secretary informed the task team that their assignment revolved round a critical issue of professional integrity, public perception and academic standards based on awards given out to certain individuals by the Universities and urged them to ensure that it was streamlined in such a way as to guarantee their relevance and the integrity of both the title holders and the universities.
He outlined the details of the Committee’s Terms of Reference (TOR) to include, among others, to:
- Examine the current landscape of honorary doctorate awards and the use of the honorary doctorate “Dr. title in Nigeria and universally.
- Examine the impact of the honorary doctorate title “Dr.” on professional and public perceptions.
- Explore legal and ethical considerations surrounding the use of the honorary doctorate “Dr.” title in Nigeria.
- Examine any existing policy (ies) and guideline (s) regarding the award and the use of the honorary doctorate “Dr.” title in Nigeria (see Keffi Declaration, 2012).
- Propose guidelines for the ethical use of the title “Dr.” by honorary doctorate recipients in Nigeria.
- Recommend best practices for the award and use of the title “Dr.” for honorary doctorates in Nigeria.
- Any other matter incidental to the above TORs which the committee may find useful in the cause of the assignment.
The Committee is expected to conclude its assignment in record time and report back to the Executive Secretary in due course.