Business

Just In: NUC bans ‘Dr’ prefix for honorary degree holders

Published

6 months ago

May 6, 2026

BY JAMES UDOH—The National Universities Commission (NUC) has introduced fresh regulations governing how honorary degrees are granted in Nigerian universities, including a prohibition on awardees adopting the “Dr.” prefix.

According to the commission, this step is intended to address the excessive and careless distribution of such honors while safeguarding the credibility of academic titles. Under the updated policy, only institutions that have successfully produced their first batch of PhD graduates are permitted to award honorary degrees.

The NUC clarified that individuals who receive honorary doctorates are not allowed to place “Dr.” before their names. Instead, they should indicate the honor after their names using proper titles, such as Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) – D.Sc (H.C). It emphasized that the “Dr.” designation is reserved exclusively for those who have earned doctoral qualifications or are certified medical practitioners.

Additionally, the new directives forbid any monetary demands or expectations from recipients, stressing that such honors must be granted purely on merit and without cost.

To ensure stricter oversight, universities are now restricted to awarding no more than three honorary degrees during each convocation ceremony.

The post Just In: NUC bans ‘Dr’ prefix for honorary degree holders appeared first on Business Today NG.

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Business

olice Warn Politicians Against Destruction of Campaign Posters, Threaten Arrests

Published

2 hours ago

November 5, 2026

PlateauReports

The Nigeria Police Force has warned political thugs, hoodlums and other individuals involved in the destruction, defacement and removal of campaign posters, banners and billboards belonging to political candidates and parties ahead of the 2027 general elections to desist or face arrest and prosecution.

The police described the growing incidents of destruction of campaign materials across the country as acts of political intolerance, warning that those responsible would be held accountable under the law.

In a statement issued on November 4, 2026, the Force said the unlawful destruction or removal of another candidate’s campaign materials could constitute malicious damage, a criminal offence under Section 451 of the Criminal Code Act and Section 326 of the Penal Code Law, which provides for the offence of mischief.

The police stressed that political differences or loyalty to a particular party did not give individuals the right to destroy another candidate’s property or prevent them from exercising their right to campaign freely.

The Force also warned that political sponsors and individuals who recruit, encourage or facilitate the destruction of campaign materials would be held accountable where evidence establishes their involvement.

According to the statement, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has directed Commissioners of Police across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to take proactive measures to prevent such incidents, investigate reported cases and ensure the arrest and prosecution of suspects found culpable.

The police further maintained that all political parties and candidates, regardless of their affiliations or status, were entitled to equal protection under the law.

The Force urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to conduct their campaigns peacefully and respect the rights of others, warning that political intolerance, intimidation and criminal activities would not be tolerated.

It reiterated its determination not to allow political thugs and troublemakers to turn the country’s political environment into a theatre of lawlessness.

The statement was signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

The post olice Warn Politicians Against Destruction of Campaign Posters, Threaten Arrests appeared first on Business Today NG.

Business

MTN Nigeria appoints ex-Etisalat boss, four other new directors

Published

10 hours ago

November 4, 2026

PlateauReports

MTN Nigeria Communications Plc has appointed five new directors to its board as part of efforts to strengthen its operations and support the company’s growth and strategic direction.

The appointees include former Etisalat Nigeria executives, Ibrahim Dikko and Boye Olusanya, who were appointed as independent non-executive directors to the board of the telecommunication company.

The telco giant also appointed corporate governance expert Fabian Ajogwu, Imoni Akpofure and Lwazi Bam as non-executive directors.

The appointments, which take effect from 1 December were disclosed in a regulatory filing signed by the company’s secretary, Uto Ukpanah, on Tuesday.

MTN Nigeria said the new directors were expected to bring their experience and expertise to strengthen the telco giant’s operations.

“The new Directors are expected to bring their wealth of experience and expertise to enhance Board operations and contribute to the Company’s growth and future direction,” MTN Nigeria said.

Profiles

Mr Dikko brings more than three decades of experience spanning banking, telecommunications, information and communications technology, and regulatory advisory.

He served as chairman of First Securities Discount House Limited from 2002 to 2012 and was vice president of regulatory and corporate affairs at EMTS Limited, which operated as Etisalat Nigeria, from 2007 to 2017.

He holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Buckingham and a Master of Laws degree from Queen Mary and Westfield College, and University of London.

Mr Dikko is a Fellow of the Society of Corporate Governance Nigeria and a Member of the Institute of Directors, Nigeria.

Boye Olusanya

Mr Olusanya, who currently leads FMN Holdings Limited, has more than 25 years of executive leadership experience across the fast-moving consumer goods, agriculture, telecommunications, technology, energy, infrastructure and financial services sectors.

He has led the strategic transformation of FMN Holdings into a vertically integrated, consumer-focused food and agro-industrial business.

MTN Nigeria said Mr Olusanya’s experience includes enterprise transformation, business restructuring, strategic acquisitions, operational turnaround and regional expansion.

Fabian Ajogwu

Mr Ajogwu is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and professor of corporate governance at Lagos Business School. He is also the senior partner at KENNA LP and has practised law for 35 years.

He assisted the Securities and Exchange Commission in drafting Nigeria’s first Code of Corporate Governance and served on the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria committee that worked on the National Code of Corporate Governance 2018.

Mr Ajogwu is also the founder of the Society for Corporate Governance Nigeria and has authored several books on corporate governance.

He holds a PhD in Law from the University of Aberdeen, an MBA from IESE Business School in Barcelona and law degrees from the University of Nigeria and the University of Lagos.

Imoni Akpofure

Ms Akpofure brings nearly three decades of experience in finance, infrastructure and sustainability, particularly across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Her career includes senior roles at the International Finance Corporation, CDC Group, now known as British International Investment, and KINA Advisory.

She currently serves on the boards of Africa50 and the Development Bank of Nigeria, where she brings experience in infrastructure investment, sustainable growth and corporate governance.

Lwazi Bam

Mr Bam joined MTN Group as group chief risk officer in June. Before joining the telecommunications group, he served as chief executive officer of Deloitte Africa and Deloitte Southern Africa from 2012 to 2022.

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During his nearly three decades at Deloitte, he also served on the firm’s Global Executive Committee and advised organisations on mergers and acquisitions, strategy, governance and risk oversight.

Between 2022 and 2026, he served as a non-executive director on the boards of Standard Bank Group and Valterra Platinum. He currently serves on the boards of Woolworths Holdings Limited and ZEDA Limited.

Mr Bam is a chartered accountant in South Africa and completed the Advanced Management Programme at Harvard Business School.

MTN Nigeria, one of Africa’s largest providers of communications services, connects over 94 million people in communities across the country.

Launched in 2001, the telco operates in 19 markets in Africa and the Middle East, serving over 300 million people.