Concerned about the increasing misuse of Artificial Intelligence in academic work, the University of Lagos (UNILAG) is set to introduce a policy on the ethical use of AI by students and lecturers.
Speaking at the opening of a three-day workshop on ethics in higher education, the institution’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics and Research), Prof. Bola Oboh, emphasized that while AI is inevitable in modern academics, its use must promote critical thinking rather than replace it.
“If we say no to AI, we will be deceiving ourselves. Our students and lecturers are already using it, even for plagiarism checks,” Oboh said. “The key is to ensure AI enhances learning and does not encourage academic laziness. The policy, expected to be finalized within the next two months, will be presented to the Senate for approval.”
The workshop, organized by UNILAG’s Office of International Relations, Partnerships, and Prospects, featured Prof. Russell Porter, Deputy Ethics Officer at Texas A&M University, Central Texas, USA, as a facilitator. He highlighted global concerns regarding AI ethics, stressing the need for continuous adaptation to evolving technologies.
Additionally, Babatunde Sawyer, Research Lead at the Machine Intelligence Research Group, UNILAG, discussed key AI ethics principles, including accountability, validity, reliability, security, and privacy.
Held at the Arthur Mbanefo Digital Research Centre, the training aimed to equip faculty members with ethical research practices. Participants are expected to disseminate the acquired knowledge within their faculties over the next six months.
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