By Abdul Lauya
An open petition by the Coalition of Academics and Professors for Qualified use of Academic Titles has warned that Nigeria’s higher education system is being undermined by the illegal and commercial misuse of academic titles.
The petition, signed by Prof. Adeyemi Johnson Ademowo, accuses unqualified individuals of parading themselves as “Dr.” and “Professor” through fake degrees, honorary doctorates, and dubious foreign certificates.
It specifically names diploma mills in the Benin Republic, bible colleges, and questionable outfits like the so-called Prowess University and American University of Business and Social Sciences as major players in the racket.
The academics say such titles are being marketed to Nigerians, who then misuse them publicly as if they were earned qualifications.
They also point to cases of individuals, including an Abuja realtor, allegedly parading themselves as “professors” after securing titles from unrecognized institutions abroad.
Fact-checks confirm the petition’s authenticity and show that while some allegations remain untested in court, the broader menace of fake titles is real and growing.
Nigeria’s laws already provide stiff penalties for such fraud under the Criminal Code, the NUC Act, and the Teachers Registration Council Act, but enforcement has been weak.
Countries like Ghana, Ethiopia, and India have already outlawed the misuse of honorary doctorates, while Nigeria has yet to decisively act.
Analysts warn that every fake “Dr” or “Professor” erodes public trust in education, diminishes genuine scholarship, and makes the country’s knowledge economy a global laughing stock.
The petition demands that government agencies enforce existing laws, blacklist dubious institutions, and launch a public awareness campaign to restore dignity in academia.
Commentators argue that scapegoats must be made of offenders to send a clear signal that Nigeria will no longer tolerate academic fraud.
At stake is not just the prestige of titles but the integrity of Nigeria’s higher education system itself.
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