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NUC issues new rules on honorary doctorates
The guidelines limit honorary awards to a maximum of three recipients per convocation and require that the degrees carry the designation “Honoris Causa,” such as Doctor of Science (D.Sc. h.c.) or Doctor of Law (LL.D. h.c.).
The National Universities Commission (NUC) on Thursday, released fresh guidelines regulating the award and use of honorary doctorate degrees in Nigeria.
Honorary doctorate degrees are non-earned distinctions granted honoris causa to recognise distinguished merit, public service, scholarly impact, creative achievement or other significant contributions aligned with the values of the awarding institution.
In a public notice shared on its official X page, the Commission found widespread misuse of honorary degrees, with 32 entities among 61 institutions and professional bodies identified as operating as honorary degree mills — including unaccredited foreign universities, unlicensed local institutions and organisations without degree-awarding powers. Some were also found issuing fake professorships.
Consequently, the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, said that the new guidelines were developed in line with established academic traditions and resolutions of the Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, including the Keffi Declaration of 2012, alongside inputs from universities submitted in December 2025.
NUC said that the new rules are designed to standardise the conferment process, protect academic integrity and safeguard the credibility and global reputation of Nigeria’s university system. Universities and other degree-awarding institutions were directed to strictly comply, with sanctions promised for violations.
Under the new rules, only approved universities that have graduated their first set of PhD students are eligible to award honorary doctorates. The purpose, criteria and selection procedures must be clearly defined and publicly accessible, while nominations must pass through statutory committees and receive approval from both the University Senate and Governing Council.
The guidelines limit honorary awards to a maximum of three recipients per convocation and require that the degrees carry the designation “Honoris Causa,” such as Doctor of Science (D.Sc. h.c.) or Doctor of Law (LL.D. h.c.).
Awards must be conferred in person, except in exceptional circumstances where they may be given virtually, in absentia or posthumously.
The Commission stressed that honorary doctorates must be granted free of charge and recipients must not present the honour as an earned academic qualification.
NUC specifically warned that recipients cannot use the “Dr.” — which is reserved for holders of earned doctoral or medical degrees — nor use the award to supervise research, practise as scholars or manage academic units.
Universities are also required to provide recipients with orientation on the proper use of the honour, publish lists of awardees on their websites to promote transparency and establish clear mechanisms for revoking awards if recipients are convicted of fraud or engage in unethical conduct.
The NUC said all eligible universities must comply strictly with the framework, reiterating that regulatory sanctions will apply to institutions that confer honorary doctorates in breach of the new guidelines.
News
Google to allow users sign in with selfie video
According to Google, the feature is designed to distinguish real users from cybercriminals attempting to use fake images or AI-generated videos to bypass security measures.
Google has introduced a new selfie video sign-in feature that allows users to access their accounts using facial verification.
The company announced on Thursday that the feature is designed to provide users with an alternative way to regain access to their accounts if they are locked out or unable to use their regular device, marking another step in the technology industry’s shift away from traditional passwords toward biometric authentication.
To activate the feature, users will record a short selfie video by following on-screen prompts that require simple head movements, such as turning left, turning right, or nodding. The video captures different angles of the user’s face and is securely saved to their account.
When users later need to verify their identity, they can record another selfie video. Google will compare the new recording with the original one created during setup to confirm the person’s identity before granting access.According to Google, the feature is designed to distinguish real users from cybercriminals attempting to use fake images or AI-generated videos to bypass security measures.
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Tinubu approves expanding Nigerian Army to 12 new divisions
The establishment of the new Divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City will significantly improve command and control, decentralise operational decision-making, strengthen border security…
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu, has approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army’s structure from eight to 12 divisions.
A statement by the presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, said that the approval underscores the president’s unwavering commitment to equipping the Armed Forces to address Nigeria’s evolving security challenges effectively and to strengthen national defence capabilities further.
According to Onanuga, the expansion builds on the Administration’s sustained investments in the Armed Forces, including approval for the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel, acquisition of critical military platforms and equipment, improvements in troop welfare, and ongoing support for operational readiness and force modernisation.
He explained that under the new structure, the Nigerian Army will operate twelve divisions, strategically positioned across the country .
“The establishment of the new Divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City will significantly improve command and control, decentralise operational decision-making, strengthen border security, enhance the protection of critical national infrastructure, improve counter-insurgency and internal security operations, and ensure faster military response to emerging threats nationwide,” said the statement.
News
FAAN evacuate 68 Passengers as Enugu Air crash-lands in Benin Airport
The flight was said to have originated from Lagos to Benin and had reportedly been cleared to land but overshot the runway, apparently due to heavy rainfall.
Sixty-eight passengers narrowly escaped death when an Enugu Air aircraft crash-landed at the Benin Airport on Thursday.
The aircraft, with Registration Number 5N-ENR, reportedly had 68 passengers on board, apart from the crew members.
The aircraft was on an Enugu-Benin-Lagos commercial flight when the incident occurred.
The aircraft overshot the runway and entered the nearby bush.
Following this, the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), immediately swung into action and all the passengers were evacuated. No casualty was recorded.
Further details of the crash emerged later, indicating that some of the passengers sustained injuries.
The flight was said to have originated from Lagos to Benin and had reportedly been cleared to land but overshot the runway, apparently due to heavy rainfall.
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