By Ebuka Ukoh
In Nigeria, social media is often awash with celebratory posts of honorary degree recipients. The self-aggrandising stunts often feature pictures of regaled recipients clutching scrolls to showcase their honours.
Admirers quickly begin to address them with the “Dr” title, online and offline. While this practice has become a new normal, it seems harmless. However, it reveals a troubling trend: a growing conflation of unearned degrees with hard-earned academic ones. This confusion undermines the integrity of academia and diminishes the true value of scholarly achievements.
In recognition of the growing abuse of the honorary doctorate, the National Universities Commission (NUC) recently introduced sweeping guidelines prohibiting serving politicians and public officials from receiving honorary doctorate degrees while in office. The policy aims to restore sanity and academic integrity and curb the perception that universities are trading honours for political proximity or financial advantage. By drawing a clear boundary between public power and academic recognition, NUC signals that scholarship must remain insulated from political theatrics. However, the effort should not stop with public officials. The deeper challenge is a culture of title inflation that extends beyond politics into business, entertainment, and religious circles. Protecting academic credibility requires a broader standard that discourages the misuse of honorary titles by anyone who has not earned them through rigorous scholarly work.
An honorary doctorate is an accolade—a ceremonial conferment upon exceptional contributors to development, typically in such fields as business, politics or humanitarian work. Unlike an earned degree, the honorary doctorate is not a credential achieved through years of studies or rigorous research. The recipient has not endured the intellectual journey that defines a true scholar. As such, the Dr title is not rightfully theirs to claim or bear.
Contrast this with a PhD or professional doctorate. These degrees represent the culmination of years of arduous academic effort, say of four to seven years. Earning a doctorate involves advanced coursework, original research, and a significant contribution to the existing body of knowledge in a field, often resulting in published findings subject to peer review. The title in this context is not just honorary; it is earned through merit, hard work, and dedication.
Unfortunately, Nigerians appear to be obsessed with titles of all kinds. This has created a fertile ground for an alarming trend: the commodification of the doctorate. Some unscrupulous institutions, often referred to as diploma mills, exploit this Nigerian craving by literally selling honorary degrees. These titles can be obtained without academic exertion for fees ranging from $5,000 to $10,000. Such practices devalue the essence of education, muddy the waters to distinguish genuine academic achievements, and mislead the public.
The problem extends beyond the Nigerian shores. Some individuals seek these purchased titles to gain social prestige or professional leverage. The abuse of the honorary doctorate tarnishes the reputation of those who have genuine academic titles and erodes the trust in educational institutions globally.
Consider the examples of renowned global figures such as Nelson Mandela, Barack Obama, Bill and Hillary Clinton, Nigeria’s Chinua Achebe, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and Peter Gregory Obi. All of them have received honorary doctorates from prestigious universities. Despite these honours, none adopted the “Dr” honorific in their professional and public lives. Their humility underscores an important truth: An honorary doctorate is a gesture of respect and acknowledgement, not a substitute for the rigorous work to earn a doctorate.
Peter Obi made headlines at some point for declining honorary degrees from seven universities. This decision sparked discussions about the significance and implications of honours in academia and society. Obi’s refusal of honorary degrees from some universities raise important questions about the nature of academic recognition and its implications for individuals and institutions. His stance may reflect broader societal concerns regarding the authenticity of accolades and the relationship between political figures and the academic community. As the discourse surrounding honorary degrees continues to evolve, Obi’s actions may catalyse further examination of the values and meanings associated with such honours in contemporary society.
The consequences of this title inflation are not merely symbolic. When honorary doctorates are paraded as though they were earned, it diminishes the achievements of those who have toiled [in the real sense of the word] in the halls of academia. It also creates an environment where intellectual rigour is undervalued, sending a dangerous message to younger generations: that shortcuts and appearances matter more than substance and hard work.
Moreover, this trend threatens the credibility of Nigeria’s academic institutions. Universities must guard against the temptation to confer honours on individuals solely for political or financial gain. Such practices erode public trust in the educational system and diminish the prestige of these institutions on the global stage.
A cultural shift is necessary. First, universities must adopt stricter criteria for awarding honoris causa degrees, ensuring that recipients’ achievements genuinely warrant such recognition. Then, public awareness campaigns should emphasise the difference between honorary and earned degrees, educating Nigerians on the value of academic integrity.
Finally, influential figures and policymakers must lead by example, refrain from using unearned titles and encourage others to do the same.
Education is the cornerstone of any nation’s development. As Nigerians, we must collectively strive to uphold the sanctity of academic achievement. The obsession with titles and appearances should not come at the expense of intellectual rigour and integrity. By valuing substance over shortcuts, we can inspire future generations to pursue genuine knowledge and to contribute to societal development.
Let us celebrate achievements for what they represent and respect honorary degrees for what they are: symbols of respect, not substitutes for seeking knowledge.
Mr Ukoh, who writes from New York in the United States, is a coauthor of Built By The Ancestors, an alumnus of the American University of Nigeria, Yola, and a PhD student at Columbia University
