A leading Nigerian human rights lawyer has called on a federal university to suspend plans to confer an honorary doctorate on Tanzania’s president, warning that the move could be seen as legitimising alleged abuses under her administration.
Femi Falana, a senior advocate of Nigeria, said the Senate of Nasarawa State University Keffi (NSUK) should immediately halt its proposed award to Samia Suluhu Hassan, citing what he described as a record of “egregious” human rights violations.
The university had announced that Hassan would attend its 25th anniversary ceremony on 11 April 2026 as guest of honour, where she is scheduled to receive a Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa).
In a statement, Falana alleged that the Tanzanian government had been implicated in unlawful killings, torture, enforced disappearances and the excessive use of force against citizens, including protesters disputing the credibility of the country’s 2025 elections.
“President Hassan’s administration is committing egregious human rights violations including unlawful killings, torture, excessive use of force and enforced disappearances against the Tanzanian people,” he said.
Falana argued that universities, as centres of knowledge and moral authority, must not appear indifferent to violations of fundamental rights such as life, freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
He added that honorary degrees go beyond ceremonial recognition, describing them as symbolic endorsements of integrity and public service. Granting such an honour under the circumstances, he said, would undermine both the spirit of Nigeria’s constitution and international human rights obligations.
“Honorary degrees are not merely ceremonial; they are symbolic endorsements of values, integrity and public service. The university must immediately suspend the award if it is not to be accused of tolerance, indifference or even complicity,” he said.
The senior lawyer warned that proceeding with the conferment could portray the institution as complicit in a broader culture of impunity.
He also called on the National Universities Commission (NUC) to examine whether NSUK’s decision aligns with its February 2026 guidelines on honorary degrees, which emphasise due diligence, transparency and the selection of individuals with demonstrable integrity and societal contributions.
According to Falana, awarding the degree to Hassan would fall short of those standards, urging the commission to ensure accountability and compel the university to review its decision.
“The university must suspend the process and demonstrate its commitment to justice, human dignity and internationally accepted standards,” he said.
