A coalition of Nigerian scholars has raised alarm over the growing misuse and commercialisation of academic titles, urging the government to take urgent action against the trend, which they say threatens the credibility of the country’s higher education system.
The Coalition of Academics and Professors for Qualified Use of Academic Titles (CAPQAT), led by Prof. Adeyemi Johnson Ademowo, has formally petitioned key agencies, including the National Universities Commission (NUC), the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Security Adviser, the Inspector General of Police, and the National Assembly Committees on Education.
In its petition, CAPQAT warned that unqualified individuals are increasingly parading themselves as “Dr.” or “Professor” through dubious means. The coalition noted that many exploit honorary doctorates, unaccredited bible colleges, and questionable foreign institutions to assume academic titles that they have not legitimately earned.
The petition cited a number of cases, including an Abuja-based real estate agent who allegedly purchased a professorial title from an American institution and now publicly presents himself as a “Professor of Entrepreneurship.” It also pointed to diploma mills in neighbouring countries and unrecognised “professional institutions” marketing honorary doctorates with claims of conferring the right to use the “Dr.” title.
According to CAPQAT, such practices are undermining academic standards and eroding public trust in Nigeria’s education system. The coalition stressed that while other African countries have outlawed or tightly regulated the use of academic titles, Nigeria has allowed the menace to thrive due to weak enforcement.
Nigeria’s legal framework already criminalises such abuses, the petition explained. The Criminal Code Act prescribes up to 14 years imprisonment or a fine of ₦500,000 for misrepresentation of academic credentials. The NUC Act provides fines of up to ₦1 million for falsification of qualifications, while the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria Act prohibits unauthorised use of academic titles with penalties of up to two years imprisonment or a ₦200,000 fine.
“The problem is not the absence of laws but the glaring absence of enforcement,” the coalition stated, calling for immediate government intervention. Recommended measures include the strict prosecution of offenders, blacklisting of dubious institutions, and public clarification that honorary doctorates, bible college degrees, or professional body “doctorates” do not confer the right to use the “Dr.” title.
The group also proposed the creation of a joint task force involving the NUC, Ministry of Education, Department of State Services, and the Police to monitor and prosecute cases of academic fraud. In addition, they called for a nationwide awareness campaign to educate the public and media on the proper use of academic distinctions.
“Every unqualified ‘Dr.’ or fake ‘Professor’ diminishes the sweat, rigor, and intellectual labour of those who have genuinely earned these distinctions,” CAPQAT warned, stressing that failure to act could cause lasting damage to Nigeria’s academic reputation.
As the petition gains attention, the academic community and the public await the government’s response, hoping for reforms and stronger enforcement that will restore integrity to Nigeria’s academic landscape.
