Tinubu warns universities against indiscriminate award of degrees

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has warned Nigerian universities against indiscriminate award of honorary doctorate degrees, saying it is sabotage, which undermines the very core values of academic integrity, and must be discontinued.

He gave the warning at the combined convocation ceremonies for the 6th, 7th and 8th graduates of the students of the Federal University of Lafia (FULafia) in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital on Saturday.

The president, represented by the acting executive secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Mr Chris Maiyaki, explained that degrees were being awarded for candidates found worthy in character and learning.

He argued that the honorary degrees should be given to only deserving Nigerians who have contributed immensely to the growth of the society.

According to him, academic competence and professional training represents a fraction of the qualifications needed to build a strong and prosperous country.

“In this connection, I must draw your attention to the tendency of some institutions to devalue the quality of their degrees by giving out honorary doctorate degrees indiscriminately, against the common university community practice,” he said.

President Tinubu also pledged to always respond positively to the needs of universities and its communities in order to reposition things for better output.

Earlier, Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State promised to train all the 50 first class graduates of FULafia from the three sets in different entrepreneur skills and give each of them N500,000 at the end of the one month training.

Sule, however, reiterated his administration’s commitment to continue to support the university to enable it achieve its mandate of training the manpower needed for the development of the country.

The vice chancellor of the university, Prof Shehu Abdul-Rahman, also said the convocation was the first in his third year in office, adding that it was combined for the 6,499 students from 53 departments of 12 faculties, 48 PhD graduates, as well as other postgraduates.

He noted that he had been building on the formidable foundation and core values of integrity, innovation and excellence put on ground by his predecessors.