RismadarVoice Reporters
January 28, 2028
The House of Representatives on Wednesday witnessed a mild drama during plenary over the propriety and public use of honorary academic titles, following the announcement of an honorary doctorate awarded to a Kogi lawmaker.
The session, which was later presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Dr Benjamin Kalu, had earlier been opened by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas with the laying of petitions and the consideration of motions of urgent public importance.
Shortly after the rendition of the national anthem and opening prayers, Abbas read a letter notifying the House of an honour conferred on the Deputy Majority Leader, Abdullahi Halims, by Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba, Kogi State.
In the letter addressed to the Speaker, Halims, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), member representing Ankpa/Olamaboro/Omala Federal Constituency, informed the House that the state-owned university had awarded him an Honorary Doctorate.
As lawmakers congratulated him from their seats, Halims rose and held the certificate aloft, turning sideways to display it to colleagues. The gesture, however, drew an immediate objection from Awaji-Inombek Abiante, a member of the opposition from Rivers State.
Recognized to speak by the Deputy Speaker, Abiante cautioned against what he described as a blurring of the line between earned academic degrees and honorary awards.
“There is a clear-cut distinction between Honorary Doctorate degrees and Doctor of Philosophy. They are two different things,” Abiante said. “That is why some of us, when we stand up, do not introduce ourselves as Doctor this or Doctor that. I will not sacrifice my labour in the academic environment for someone who just got honoured. Let us have that distinction, sir.”
Although no extended debate was allowed on the matter, Abiante’s remarks were met with loud approval from lawmakers across party lines, reflecting a shared concern within the chamber.
In his ruling, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu directed the House Committee on Rules and Business to examine the issues raised and make recommendations on how the House should formally address the distinction between honorary and earned doctoral degrees.
The exchange rekindled a long-running national debate over the social and professional use of honorary doctorate titles in Nigeria.
Nigerian universities, both public and private frequently confer honorary degrees on politicians, business leaders, entertainers, and other public figures, often in recognition of philanthropy, influence, or perceived contributions to society. However, unlike a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), honorary doctorates do not require academic coursework, original research, or the defence of a thesis.
