President Bola Ahmed Tinubu cautions Nigerian universities about indiscriminate awarding of honorary Doctorate Degrees, deeming it detrimental to academic integrity.
Tinubu delivered the warning during the joint convocation ceremonies for the 6th, 7th, and 8th cohorts of Federal University of Lafia (FULafia) graduates, held in Lafia, the capital of Nasarawa State, last Saturday.
Representing the President, the Acting Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Mr. Chris Jibreel-Maiyaki, emphasized the importance of awarding degrees to individuals of impeccable character and academic prowess.
He stressed that honorary degrees should be reserved for Nigerians who have significantly contributed to societal progress.
Tinubu highlighted that academic competence alone isn’t sufficient for national development; moral upbringing and ethical standards are equally crucial.He urged universities to uphold the highest standards of integrity, purity, and moral discipline to fulfill their purpose effectively.
Expressing concern over some institutions diluting the value of their degrees through indiscriminate awarding of honorary Doctorate Degrees, Tinubu urged adherence to community standards.
Furthermore, Tinubu pledged unwavering support to address infrastructural deficits in Nigerian universities, aiming for enhanced outcomes.
Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State commended FULafia’s efforts in nurturing students and pledged to equip First Class graduates with entrepreneurial skills and financial aid.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting the university’s mission of grooming skilled manpower for national development.
Prof. Shehu Abdul-Rahman, FULafia’s Vice Chancellor, highlighted the institution’s growth, boasting of 6,499 graduates across various disciplines and establishing resource centers for research and development.
He thanked President Tinubu, Governor Sule, and other stakeholders for their support, vowing to uphold the institution’s core values of integrity and excellence.
