By Dashe Isaac Adigitsanshinan Jen
A coalition of Academics and Professors in Nigeria has sounded the alarm over the reckless commercialization and illegal use of academic titles, particularly “Dr.” and “Professor,” by unqualified individuals. The group, known as the Coalition of Academics and Professors for Qualified Use of Academic Titles (CAPQAT), is urging the government and its agencies to take immediate action to address this menace.
According to Prof. Adeyemi Johnson Ademowo, Convener of CAPQAT, the misuse of academic titles is not only eroding public trust in Nigerian institutions but also mocking genuine scholars and promoting fraud in the knowledge economy. The coalition argues that this practice poses a grave threat to the reputation of Nigerian academia and the sanctity of higher education.
The issue has been exacerbated by diploma mills in the Benin Republic, bible colleges, and questionable foreign universities handing out so-called doctorates, which recipients then misconstrue as licenses to prefix “Dr.” before their names. This shameless exploitation of Nigeria’s weak enforcement mechanisms continues to tarnish the nation’s intellectual reputation.
CAPQAT is drawing attention to the fact that Nigeria already has sufficient laws to address these abuses, including the Criminal Code Act, NUC Act, and Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria Act. However, the problem lies in the lack of enforcement, and the coalition is calling for decisive action to protect the integrity of Nigeria’s higher education system.
One notable example cited by the coalition is the case of an Abuja-based realtor who allegedly acquired a doctorate from an American university and now parades himself as “Professor of Entrepreneurship.” Such instances are not only fraudulent but also dangerously misleading to the Nigerian public.
The coalition has made several demands to the government and its agencies, including enforcing existing laws against the illegal use of academic titles, blacklisting and banning dubious institutions, and launching a nationwide awareness campaign to educate the public on the proper use of academic titles.
Furthermore, CAPQAT is advocating for the establishment of a joint task force involving relevant agencies to monitor and prosecute cases of academic title fraud. This move, they argue, will help restore the dignity of Nigeria’s higher education system and prevent further damage to the country’s academic reputation.