The Federal Government has taken decisive action against Nigerian universities conferring honorary doctorate degrees on serving political office holders. Through the National Universities Commission (NUC), authorities announced a major clampdown on Friday, November 21, 2025, targeting institutions that violate academic integrity standards.
NUC Issues Stern Warning to Universities
Professor Abdullahi Ribadu, the Executive Secretary of NUC, delivered the directive while receiving the report of the Committee on the Misuse of Honorary Doctorate Degrees by Recipients in Nigeria. He warned that any university found guilty of awarding these honors to serving politicians would face severe penalties.
The Commission plans to collaborate with the National Assembly to establish a legal framework that will punish violators effectively. This move aligns Nigeria with other African nations like Ghana, Ethiopia, Liberia, Zambia, and Malawi that have implemented similar measures to protect academic standards.
Violations of Keffi Declaration Exposed
Professor Ribadu expressed deep concern about the rising number of unaccredited institutions operating as honorary doctorate degree mills across the country. He particularly lamented how many universities continue to disregard the Keffi Declaration of 2012, which explicitly prohibited awarding honorary degrees to serving political office holders.
The declaration also discouraged recipients from using the title "Dr" without proper disclosure that the degree was honorary. Despite these guidelines, several prominent institutions violated the policy in 2025 alone.
Politicians Who Received Questionable Honors
Investigations reveal that ten serving political office holders received honorary doctorate degrees from Nigerian universities in 2025. The list includes some of the nation's most powerful figures:
- Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen – National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN)
- First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu – Federal University Gashua and University of Port Harcourt
- Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike – University of Port Harcourt
- Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri – University of Port Harcourt
- Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni – Federal University Gashua
- Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori – Nigerian Maritime University
- Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate – Federal University of Kashere
- Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Geidam – Federal University Gashua
- Senator Orji Kalu – Federal University of Kashere
- Chairman, House Committee on Appropriations, Rep. Abubakar Bichi – Federal University of Kashere
Financial Transactions Raise Concerns
The controversy deepened when Professor Ribadu disclosed that some individuals allegedly paid substantial amounts to obtain these titles. He revealed that payments ranging from N20 million to N50 million were made to certain institutions, describing the practice as a form of political patronage that undermines academic credibility.
"To the extent that there are people who even buy, give the university N20 million, N30 million, N40 million, N50 million, get honorary doctorate degree, and they go about branding themselves as doctors, comparing themselves to people who have worked tirelessly to earn a PhD," Ribadu stated.
Experts say these developments reflect growing continental concern about preserving academic integrity and preventing the public from being misled by unearned qualifications. The NUC's action represents a significant step toward restoring credibility to Nigeria's higher education system.
