NUC bars self, serving officials from honorary degrees
The National Universities Commission (NUC) has issued new guidelines prohibiting Nigerian universities from awarding honorary doctorates to self or serving public officials. Vice-chancellors received a 24 February letter outlining restrictions including a limit of three honorary degrees per convocation and mandatory publication of recipients' names on university websites. The guidelines, developed in September 2025 and circulated for input in December, aim to safeguard academic integrity and curb misuse of awards. Universities must establish withdrawal mechanisms for recipients convicted of fraud or unethical conduct. Only universities with graduated PhD students are eligible to award degrees, with all nominations requiring senate and council approval. Conferments must occur in person except in exceptional cases, with no posthumous awards allowed.