The Federal Government has prohibited recipients of honorary degrees from using the title “Dr” in any official, academic or professional setting across Nigeria.

Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, announced the directive on Wednesday after the Federal Executive Council meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Crackdown on ‘Dr’ title misuse

Alausa said the move follows a growing pattern of abuse linked to honorary degrees, which he described as increasingly politicised.

“The recent trend… has revealed a growing abuse and politicisation of this academic privilege,” he stated.

Concerns over patronage and ethics

According to the minister, honorary awards have in some cases been used for political patronage and financial gain.

He also raised concerns about the practice of conferring such honours on serving public officials, noting that it goes against established academic ethics.

New rule takes effect

Under the directive, recipients of honorary doctorates can no longer prefix their names with “Dr”.

Instead, they are expected to clearly state the honorary nature of the award after their names.

Push to restore academic integrity

The government said the decision is aimed at protecting the credibility of academic titles and ensuring that earned qualifications are not undermined.

The development is expected to trigger reactions across academic and public circles, where honorary titles have become increasingly common.