EDITORIAL: The sham of honorary titles

“When people had gone through pain, spent time and resources to earn such titles, others just give themselves titles to get fame and this shows how dishonest the society is."

So remarked Professor Ebenezer Oduro Owusu, former vice-chancellor of the University of Ghana.

In Namibia, especially its body politic, this has become an epidemic of viral proportions. The whole principle of handing out honorary degrees is contentious. But if universities are itching to churn them out, often to buy the proverbial face of society’s most powerful beings, they should never lead to people calling themselves ‘Dr’.

Traditionally, honorary degrees were reserved for luminaries, people who inspire others in a particular sphere. Not the rich who fund these institutions, or politicians who dictate budget allocations and have a say in extending the expiring employment contracts of vice-chancellors.

This faux pas has exposed the insecurities of our political leaders. In fact, it would be interesting to know whether speechwriters of our current leaders are actually instructed to write ‘Dr’ just to soothe the egos of those bestowed these titles in ink, and not in academia.

Leading scholarly work is devalued when non-academics carelessly use such designations, misleading students, the public and other academic personnel.

Again, we emphasise that conferring honorary degrees on people is an old tradition. But that tradition was based on the value one added to society. That value has to be distinguished. The honoree must have a legacy that separates them from the pack.