Dr. Moses Blonkanjay Jackson (MsEd, EdM)
July 1, 2025
PHOTO OF THE AUTHOR
Thinking Thoughts
In my Thinking Thoughts, I considered the recent concerns raised by the Executive Director of the National Commission for Higher Education (NCHE), Professor Dr. Edward Wonkeryor, over the awarding and application of honorary degrees. Over the last two decades, it has become apparent that conferring of honorary doctoral degrees is a tradition or fashion for simple pomp and splendor. In most cases, the degree is awarded to all and sundry individuals for various reasons. There are also Presidents and Provosts of universities who are honorary degree holders with no academic experience or educational leadership acumen, comfortably seated at such a high echelon of scholarship. One can then easily conclude that Dr. Wonkeryor’s concern demands serious discourses for the success of the “E” in President Joseph Boakai’s ARREST agenda.
Reasons for Honorary Degrees
Honorary degrees are traditionally conferred by universities as symbolic recognitions of individuals who have made outstanding contributions to society, regardless of whether they have undergone formal academic training. They are often awarded to celebrate achievements in fields such as public service, humanitarianism, arts, science, and leadership. However, in Liberia, the conferring and use of honorary degrees have taken a different turn—one that has negative implications for the integrity of the educational system, the credibility of leadership, and the cultural value of knowledge and merit. Rather than uplifting national standards, the misuse of honorary degrees in Liberia has fostered academic fraud, social confusion, and a weakening of meritocratic principles.
Erosion of Academic Integrity
One of the most harmful effects of honorary degrees in Liberia is the erosion of academic integrity. In many parts of the world, honorary degrees are granted by well-established institutions based on strict criteria, transparency, and committee-based evaluations. In contrast, Liberia has seen a proliferation of unauthorized institutions—some with questionable legitimacy—that indiscriminately confer honorary doctorates in exchange for monetary or political gain. Individuals who have not gone through rigorous academic processes, such as completing coursework, passing examinations, or writing dissertations, are often granted titles such as “Doctor of Divinity” or “Doctor of Humanities.”
This undermines the efforts of genuine scholars like some of us who have spent years conducting research and contributing to academia. It also discredits Liberia’s higher education institutions, both locally and internationally, as their affiliations with unregulated honorary degree conferrals damage their reputations. When titles are given freely and irresponsibly, they lose their symbolic and intellectual value. The consequence is a higher education culture where merit and discipline are replaced with patronage and superficial prestige.
Credential Inflation and Academic Fraud
Confirmed information showed there are individuals who inflate their credentials by masquerading as “Doctors” whereby they did not acquire the degree. A case in point is an individual who masqueraded as doctoral degree holder for years, calling themselves “Dr”. It was after several years that the individual was awarded the actual degree by some university. Today, that individual carries himself as one of Liberia’s best and brightest. This is a gross abuse.
The abuse of honorary degrees has led to a culture of academic fraud and credential inflation in Liberia. Individuals who receive honorary degrees frequently present them as equivalent to earned doctorates, without clarifying their honorary status. Some even go so far as to list them on résumés or use them to qualify for employment, promotions, or leadership roles. This deceptive practice contributes to widespread confusion among the public and employers regarding who holds legitimate academic qualifications.
Furthermore, the proliferation of honorary degrees contributes to the phenomenon of credential inflation, where the value of academic degrees is diluted because of oversaturation and misuse. When honorary titles are used in place of earned ones, the distinction between true scholarship and honorary recognition disappears. This makes it more difficult for qualified professionals to distinguish themselves in their fields and demotivates students who aspire to achieve genuine academic success. The result is a demoralizing system that rewards appearances rather than substance.
Misuse for Political and Social Leverage
In Liberia, honorary degrees are often misused as tools for political and social leverage. Politicians, religious leaders, and public figures frequently accept such titles from substandard institutions to elevate their public image. This trend has enabled individuals to project intellectual authority without the academic foundation to support it. The danger lies in the perception of expertise—when leaders present themselves as “Doctors” based on honorary degrees, they create the illusion of intellectual competence, which can be misleading and even harmful in policymaking and public discourse.
The use of honorary titles for political gain also creates a culture where loyalty, wealth, or influence becomes the basis for academic recognition, rather than academic excellence or societal impact. This practice corrupts the principle of educational leadership and contributes to public cynicism about higher education. Instead of serving as role models, such individuals may undermine public trust in institutions and in the value of education itself.
Devaluation of Higher Education Institutions
The frequent and unregulated use of honorary degrees also contributes to the devaluation of Liberia’s higher education institutions. When universities prioritize conferring honorary degrees as a fundraising strategy or for publicity rather than maintaining academic standards, they risk reducing themselves to ceremonial platforms rather than centers of scholarship. This undermines their role as critical drivers of national development, innovation, and thought leadership.
Moreover, such practices damage the global reputation of Liberian universities, limiting international collaborations and partnerships. Foreign academic institutions may question the credibility of Liberian credentials, affecting students and faculty who genuinely pursue knowledge and excellence. In an era of global education mobility, this reputational damage has far-reaching consequences for Liberia’s future generations and development prospects.
Cultural Impact and Public Perception
The cultural consequences of misused honorary degrees are equally significant. In a country where educational infrastructure is still recovering from civil conflict and economic challenges, the abuse of honorary degrees sends the wrong message to youth. It fosters a belief that academic titles and success can be achieved through shortcuts or connections rather than hard work and study. This mindset discourages discipline, innovation, and critical thinking—all of which are essential for national growth.
Additionally, the use of honorary degrees by religious and political leaders often goes unquestioned by the public, leading to the normalization of false credentials. When titles become symbols of status rather than learning, the society as a whole shifts away from valuing knowledge, evidence-based leadership, and meritocracy.
Recommendations for Reform
While I applaud Dr. Wonkeryor’s quest to purge the higher education sector of quacks and fraudulent academic thieves, I posit that mere concerns and assertions less policy foundations is similar to throwing “water under a bridge”.
To reverse these trends, Liberia must implement firm regulatory measures through the National Commission on Higher Education (NCHE).
- First, the NCHE should create a public registry of recognized institutions authorized to award honorary degrees, as well as a clear distinction between earned and honorary doctorates.
- Second, all individuals holding honorary degrees must be prohibited from using the title “Dr.” as a professional credential unless they hold a terminal academic degree.
- Public awareness campaigns should educate citizens on the meaning and limitations of honorary degrees.
- Academic institutions should be encouraged to uphold international standards when awarding such honors, focusing on lifetime contributions to society rather than personal gain or political convenience.
- Government of Liberia/MOE should increase the budget of the NCHE to enable it to police, monitor, troubleshoot, and fix the stack of challenges in the higher education sector.
Conclusion
To avoid being remiss, I posit that Honorary degrees, if used responsibly, can be powerful tools to recognize excellence and inspire civic virtue. However, in Liberia, their misuse has had detrimental effects on the country’s educational system, governance culture, and societal values. The conferring and use of honorary degrees without regulation have led to academic fraud, weakened institutional credibility, and fostered a culture of superficial recognition.
To protect the integrity of higher education and foster a culture of merit, Liberia must act decisively to reform and regulate the honorary degree system, ensuring that honor returns to its rightful place in academic and national life.
About the author:
The Rivercess Man, Dr. Moses Blonkanjay Jackson, CEO and founder of the Diversified Educators Empowerment Project (DEEP), holds a Master of Education (EdM) from Harvard University, a Master of Science in Mathematics Education IMsEd) from St. Joseph’s University and a Doctor of Education (EdD); Dr. Jackson he is a Yale University Teachers Initiative Math Fellow and UPENN Teacher Institute Physics Fellow. He is a part-time lecturer at the AMEU and Stella Maris Graduate schools.
The Education Engineer, Dr. Jackson, served the government of Liberia diligently for four years and returned to private practice as a Development Specialist and Education Engineer. The Mwalimu-Koh can be reached at 0886 681 315 / 0770 206 645.