NCHE Warns Against Using ‘Dr’ for Honorary Degrees

The National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) has reminded the public to stop addressing people as ‘Doctor’ if they they did not attend any study for that tittle.

In a statement released by NCHE, people who are given honorary doctorate should not be addressed using ‘Dr’ as they are not fit to be called so.

According to NCHE Chairperson Dr. Estone Sambo, he explained that an honorary doctorate is simply a title of respect, not the same as  academic doctorates obtained after a formal study. He said calling such people “Doctor” can mislead others into thinking they are trained experts.

Sambo also asked journalists to to respect this distinction and stop addressing people with honorary doctorate as ‘Dr’.

NCHE’s message is meant to protect the value of academic qualifications.