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.
Although Ribadu did not disclose the identities of the affected institutions, he said the sanctions reflected the commission’s determination to enforce its regulations and curb the abuse of honorary academic titles.
“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.
The action comes more than eight months after the commission raised concerns over what it described as the growing indiscriminate award and misuse of honorary doctorate degrees within Nigeria’s university system.
In February, the NUC issued a 16-point guideline regulating the conferment and use of honorary doctorate degrees.
The commission said the guidelines were consistent with the Education Act (National Minimum Standards and Establishment of Institutions), CAP E3, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, as well as its statutory responsibilities.
It also warned that institutions found violating the rules would face sanctions, alongside individuals who improperly use honorary academic titles.
Beyond regulatory enforcement, Ribadu highlighted several initiatives introduced by the commission to improve the administration and quality of university education in the country.
He cited the deployment of the e-NUC platform to automate the commission’s operations, the development of a national artificial intelligence roadmap and policy framework, and the introduction of accreditation software to promote transparency and efficiency.
The NUC executive secretary also urged universities to strengthen the commercialisation of research by converting academic findings into practical solutions, marketable products and innovations capable of addressing Nigeria’s development challenges.
He called on vice-chancellors to commit to measurable reforms that would improve institutional performance, advance the quality of university education and enhance the global competitiveness of Nigerian universities.
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 deliberate on emerging challenges and opportunities in the university sector.
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