NUC sanctions two universities for violating honorary degree guidelines

Abdullahi Ribadu, executive secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), says the commission has sanctioned two universities for “gross violation” of its guidelines on the conferment of honorary doctorate degrees.

Ribadu spoke in Abuja on Tuesday at the 2026 NUC retreat with vice-chancellors of Nigerian universities.

Although he did not name the affected universities, the move comes more than eight months after the NUC warned against the “increasing incidence of indiscriminate conferment and misuse” of honorary doctorate degrees within the Nigerian university system.

Ribadu said the sanctions demonstrate the commission’s resolve to enforce its guidelines on honorary degrees.

“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.

Ribadu said the commission has implemented some key initiatives in recent years, including deploying the e-NUC platform to automate its operations, developing a national artificial intelligence roadmap and policy framework and introducing accreditation software to improve transparency and efficiency.

He urged universities to strengthen research commercialisation by translating research findings into practical solutions, marketable products and innovations that address national development challenges.

The NUC executive secretary said vice-chancellors need to commit to measurable actions that advance university education, improve institutional performance and position Nigerian universities to compete globally.

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 to address emerging challenges in university education.

The commission issued a 16-point guideline in February for the award and use of honorary doctorate degrees, saying the decision aligns with the provisions of the Education Act (National Minimum Standards and Establishment of Institutions), CAP E3, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (2004), and its statutory responsibilities.

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