NUC CRACKS DOWN ON TWO UNIVERSITIES OVER HONORARY DEGREES

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has sanctioned two universities for gross violation of its guidelines on the conferment of honorary doctorate degrees, eight months after warning institutions against the indiscriminate award and misuse of the titles.

The NUC sanctions universities honorary doctorate move was disclosed by the commission’s Executive Secretary, Professor Abdullahi Ribadu, on Tuesday at the 2026 NUC retreat with vice-chancellors of Nigerian universities in Abuja.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT

Ribadu announced the sanctions during his address at the opening of the retreat, which brought together vice-chancellors, strategic partners and NUC management.

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“The Commission under my leadership has continued to strengthen its operational guidelines towards ensuring quality and relevance of university education, including the development of new guidelines for the award and use of honorary doctorate degrees with sanctions for defaulting universities. Already, we have sanctioned two universities,” Ribadu said.

He did not name the affected institutions or disclose the specific penalties imposed.

THE FEBRUARY WARNING

The sanctions follow a warning issued by the NUC in February 2026, when the commission raised concerns about what it described as the “increasing incidence of indiscriminate conferment and misuse” of honorary doctorate degrees within the Nigerian university system.

At that time, the commission issued a 16-point guideline to regulate the award and use of honorary doctorate degrees.

The guidelines were developed in line with the provisions of the Education Act (National Minimum Standards and Establishment of Institutions), CAP E3, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, and the commission’s statutory responsibilities.

The NUC had warned that appropriate sanctions would be imposed on any institution found to have violated its guidelines, as well as on individuals who misuse honorary titles.

WHY IT MATTERS

Honorary doctorate degrees are distinctions awarded by universities to recognise exceptional contributions to society, scholarship, public service or other fields.

They are not earned academic qualifications.

The distinction matters because honorary titles are sometimes misrepresented by recipients as evidence of academic achievement, leading to confusion about credentials and, in some cases, fraud.

The NUC’s decision to enforce its guidelines signals an intention to protect the credibility of academic distinctions in Nigeria and to prevent universities from using honorary awards as a means of fundraising or political favour.

THE WIDER CONTEXT

The sanctions come amid broader concerns about the integrity of Nigeria’s university system. In recent months, the NUC has taken steps to strengthen regulation, including the deployment of the e-NUC platform to automate operations, the development of a national artificial intelligence roadmap and policy framework, and the introduction of accreditation software to improve transparency and efficiency.

Ribadu also urged vice-chancellors to translate research into practical outcomes, including marketable products and innovations that could address Nigeria’s development challenges, and to commit to measurable actions that improve institutional performance.

The NUC has not yet publicly identified the two sanctioned universities or provided further details about the specific violations and penalties imposed.

ValidViewNetwork reports that the NUC has sanctioned two universities. The commission’s enforcement action signals a new determination to uphold academic standards.