The National Universities Commission (NUC) has sanctioned two Nigerian universities for violating its guidelines on the award of honorary doctorate degrees.
The Executive Secretary of the commission, Abdullahi Ribadu, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja during the 2026 NUC retreat with vice-chancellors of Nigerian universities.
Ribadu did not disclose the names of the affected institutions but said the sanctions demonstrated the commission’s commitment to enforcing standards and preventing the misuse of honorary academic titles within the Nigerian university system.
He explained that the commission had strengthened its operational guidelines to improve the quality, relevance and regulation of university education in the country.
“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,” he said.
NUC Introduces Guidelines for Honorary Doctorate Degrees
The sanctions follow a warning issued by the NUC against the indiscriminate conferment and misuse of honorary doctorate degrees by universities and individuals.
In February 2026, the commission issued a 16-point guideline regulating the award and use of honorary doctorate degrees in Nigerian universities.
The guidelines were introduced in line with 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 universities found violating the guidelines would face appropriate sanctions. Individuals who misuse honorary academic titles could also face consequences under the applicable rules.
Honorary doctorate degrees are distinctions awarded by universities to recognise exceptional contributions to society, scholarship, public service or other fields. The commission’s guidelines seek to ensure that such honours are awarded responsibly and are not misrepresented as earned academic qualifications.
NUC Urges Universities to Strengthen Research and Innovation
Beyond regulatory compliance, Ribadu called on Nigerian universities to improve research commercialisation by translating academic findings into practical solutions, marketable products and innovations that address national development challenges.
He also urged vice-chancellors to commit to measurable actions that would improve institutional performance, strengthen university education and enhance the global competitiveness of Nigerian institutions.
The NUC executive secretary highlighted several initiatives introduced by the commission, including the deployment of the e-NUC platform to automate its operations, the development of a national artificial intelligence roadmap and policy framework, and the introduction of accreditation software to promote transparency and efficiency.
NUC Holds Retreat With University Vice-Chancellors
The two-day retreat, themed “Enhancing Regulatory Compliance, Governance, Leadership, and Partnership in the Nigerian University System,” brought together vice-chancellors, strategic partners and NUC management.
The meeting focused on emerging challenges in university education, institutional governance, regulatory compliance and partnerships across the Nigerian university system.
The latest sanctions signal the commission’s intention to enforce its honorary degree guidelines more strictly as it seeks to strengthen public confidence in Nigerian universities and protect the credibility of academic distinctions.
However, the NUC has yet to publicly identify the two sanctioned universities or provide further details about the specific violations and penalties imposed.
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