By KENNEDY SHEYIN

Some holders of doctoral degrees (PhDs) on Friday commended the Federal Government on the ban placed on recipients of honorary doctorates from using the “Dr” title, saying it is a positive development.

The scholars, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, were unanimous in describing the use of ‘Dr’ prefix by honourary doctorate recipients as an academic fraud.

NAN reports that the ban was announced by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa on Wednesday in Abuja.

Alausa argued that the use of the title by such recipients constitutes a misrepresentation of academic credentials, adding that it would henceforth be treated as academic fraud, with attendant legal and reputational consequences.

In his reaction to the development, Prof. Ahshom Maisamari, said with the ban, the right thing had been done by the federal government.

“I want to commend the government for this because it provides a clear distinction between a doctor who earned his/her PhD through a hard and rigorous search for knowledge from those who were recognised.

“They don’t have the content and the knowledge that the field entails; they just have the recognition of the university for having served humanity.

“Those who have Honoris Causa are those who didn’t work for it academically; they are given based on their character, contribution or service to humanity; they may or may not even have a first degree,” he said.

Maisamari, a PhD holder in English Education, praised the federal government for limiting the award of honorary degrees by universities to three per convocation, stating that this would curb abuse by some universities.

“Some universities have used honoris causa as a means of attracting revenue and support for the institution, with some recipients not necessarily qualifying for it in terms of humanitarian services.

“It is not supposed to be a commercial or revenue generation issue but a clear recognition. Limiting the number to three will curb abuse by universities that may be guilty of this,” he said.

Also contributing, a Political Scientist and Media Practitioner, Dr Wale Sadeeq, described the ban as a welcome development, saying it was long overdue.

Sadeeq said that the ban would preserve clarity, credibility and integrity in academia.

“A earned PhD or Doctor of Medicine (MD), as the case may be, typifies years of rigorous academic engagements, whereas an honorary doctorate is a recognition rather than an academic qualification.

“Besides, the ban will avoid misleading people regarding genuine scholars and those who were merely honoured.

The federal government’s decision in this regard is perfectly in order and in line with international best practices,” he said.

According to him, it is unfortunate that because of the love for titles, some honorary recipients use the title ‘Dr’ to gain undue influence in the society, deceiving the public into believing that they are products of rigorous academic pursuit,” he said.

Sadeeq urged the government not to just stop at the ban but to check what he called the bastardisation of awards of honorary doctorates by Nigerian universities, some of whom had turned themselves into commercial degree mills.

Similarly, Dr Mercy Tartsea-Anshase, a Mass Communication expert, said that the development was a step in the right direction.

“It is a welcome development as far as I am concerned. With this, everyone can be where he/she belongs, and academic doctors can be addressed appropriately.

“Before now, the only way to properly distinguish ourselves was to add PhD after our names to show that we are academic and not honorary doctoral degree holders.

“The ban means that some persons are concerned that the right thing should be done,” Tartsea-Anshase said. (NAN)