Nigeria bans holders of honourary degrees from using the accolade Dr in front of their names

NIGERIA'S federal government has banned the use of the prefix Dr by honorary degree holders in official or professional settings limiting the use of the accolade to medical and academic personnel.

More than any other country on earth, Nigeria is plagued by its citizens loving titles like Dr, Alhaji, Alhaja, Chief, Apostle, Jerusalem Pilgrim, Engineer, etc. This has spurred the growth of a cash-and-carry industry in which honorary Dr titles are available for a price, with awardees using the accolade as though it were earned in an academic institution.

In a move to stem the growing tide, the federal government has decided to stop the use of honourary titles in all official circles. Education minister Tunji Alausa announced the new policy earlier today at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, while briefing State House correspondents after a Federal Executive Council meeting.

Mr Alausa said: “The recent trend we’ve seen with the award of honorary degrees has revealed a growing abuse and politicisation of this academic privilege. We’ve seen awards being used for political patronage, for financial gain, as well as the conferral of awards on serving public officials, which, as part of the ethics of honorary degree awards, should not happen.”

Under the new directive, individuals who receive honorary degrees will no longer be permitted to use the title Dr before their names. Instead, they are required to state the full honorary designation after their names.