THE concern expressed recently by the National Universities Commission (NUC) on the "use of academic titles in Nigeria professorship", is long overdue, being a pointer to the sorry state of affairs in the country's universities. Over the years, there has been a clear abuse in the awards of 'professor', or 'Dr.' either by an institution without the right to award; or to people that are neither qualified for, nor merited the award. Having taken the step to publicly express its displeasure on the issue however, the NUC must go farther to hold erring institutions to account.
In a newspaper advertorial about a week ago, the commission expressed concern "about the acquisition and the use of the title of 'professor' in Nigeria, stating the general conditions prescribed by it, under which such titles can be acquired. Among other conditions, it is universal standard practice for persons appointed to the rank of professor to have a "professorial chair" in recognition of consistent and outstanding contribution in a specialised field of research.
The commission identified the crux of the problem as: "The apparent inconsistencies and lack of adherence to these time-tested university traditions, thus casting a cloud over the integrity of the process through which some universities appoint individuals to the rank of professor."
Indeed, according to the NUC, "there are instances where some individuals parade themselves as 'professors' without evidence of affiliation with any recognised university, or the academic fields to which they had made such remarkable scholarly contributions as to merit the esteemed title."
Equally worrisome to the commission is the award of professorship by parastatals, research institutes and allied establishments which have neither a senatus academicus (academic senate) nor an approved affiliation with a recognised university that has an academic senate.
The extent to which the titles are abused is quite high. It is unfortunate that the university as a revered institution associated with impeccable character and learning has been left to sink so low. Persons who are not professors in their universities of primary assignment are appointed visiting professors in other universities. Some universities offer honorary doctorate degree in a particular field of science which they do not teach.
These rampart cases of misuse are not acceptable. They indicate that many teachers in the institutions of learning ought not to be in the academia; just as it is lamentable that university titles are available for just anybody who can afford them monetarily or otherwise.
That the system of universities and the attendant value system have collapsed is an understatement. The situation cannot be lamented too much. But beyond the lamentation which the NUC's advertorial virtually portrays, the commission appears to be somewhat handicapped.
Firstly, it did not refer to any law, but rather global university tradition, in expressing its concern. Does this suggest the absence of an enabling law to address the identified forms and instances of misuse? If a relevant law exists, what are its provisions and sanctions? And why did the NUC not make reference to it?
If there are no laws, or the existing laws are simply inadequate, this is the time the NUC can propose a bill to take care of its grievances. It cannot continue to groan under a tradition that renders it a toothless bulldog.
For instance, the commission observes that whereas it is the norm for honorary degree awardees to cite the award in their curriculum vitae with the phrase 'Honoris Causa', "it is certainly not conventional for such people to be addressed as 'Dr.' or to use the title in a manner as to mislead members of the public."
The truth is that many people who fall into the category identified by NUC are simply not ready or willing to stop the perversion in their usage of the title. Are they even aware that they are technically misusing it? Is there nothing the NUC can do to enforce the convention?
The seeming helplessness of the commission is perhaps reflected in its conclusion thus: "The commission feels compelled to clarify these very important issues, as some of them, especially the integrity in the process of appointment of professors, have serious implications for the quality of university education in Nigeria."
Since the NUC has a statutory duty of ensuring high quality university education, and maintaining minimum standard, it should proceed to the next plausible level in resolving its concern. It cannot fold its hands while university values are desecrated on cash and carry basis. What happened to various recommendations made in the past regarding the abuse of honorary degrees?
The commission, nevertheless, has taken a right first step in its publication. But that is the beginning of the reform it desires. The abuse of titles satisfies influential Nigerians with inferiority complex, and offers little to the society. There is need to sustain the campaign started. And there is a greater need to sanction erring universities or personnel found to be demeaning the respected institutional values of Nigerian universities.
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