LASU Postgraduate School Promotes Ethical AI Use to Strengthen Research Integrity

The Lagos State University (LASU) Postgraduate School has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting ethical scholarship and research excellence by equipping postgraduate students, researchers and academics with the knowledge and skills required for the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in research.

The commitment was reiterated during a one-day virtual webinar held on July 30, where participants examined the opportunities, challenges and ethical responsibilities associated with the growing adoption of AI in academic research.

Declaring the webinar open, the Dean of the LASU Postgraduate School, Professor Ibrahim Olateju, said the initiative formed part of the school’s efforts to ensure that the university remains at the forefront of global developments in postgraduate education and research.

He said the Postgraduate School would continue to expose students and researchers to emerging issues shaping academia while encouraging innovation rooted in ethical standards and academic excellence.

Delivering the keynote presentation titled “Preserving Research Integrity and Credibility in the Age of Artificial Intelligence,” the Editor of the LASU Postgraduate School Journal, Professor Moses Akanbi, stressed that the conversation surrounding AI has shifted from whether it should be used to how it can be deployed responsibly without compromising academic integrity.

According to him, AI serves as a valuable research assistant capable of supporting literature reviews, writing, coding, translation, statistical analysis, reference management and data visualisation. He, however, cautioned that the technology should complement—not replace—human intelligence, originality and critical thinking.

Professor Akanbi warned against the misuse of AI through fabricated references, fake datasets, ghost-written dissertations and excessive dependence on machine-generated content, describing the undisclosed use of AI-generated material as a modern form of plagiarism. He urged researchers to remain accountable for their work by verifying facts, references and analyses while disclosing AI usage where necessary.

Also speaking, Professor Olawale Ibrahim Olateju presented a paper on “Fundamentals of Statistical Analysis in the AI Age,” highlighting the transformative role of AI-powered tools in improving data processing, analysis and interpretation.

While acknowledging AI’s contribution to research productivity and efficiency, he advised researchers to combine technological innovation with sound statistical knowledge, critical evaluation and professional judgment to ensure that research findings remain accurate, reliable and credible.

The webinar moderator, Dr. Ganiu Bamgbose, delivered a presentation titled “When AI Writes and Humans Think: Ethical Boundaries in Postgraduate Research in the Humanities.” He emphasised the need to preserve intellectual originality, critical thinking and the unique academic voice of scholars, urging researchers to regard AI as a complementary research tool rather than a substitute for independent scholarship.

The speakers unanimously agreed that although Artificial Intelligence presents significant opportunities to enhance research productivity, human judgement, integrity and accountability remain indispensable in producing credible and impactful scholarly work.

The webinar ended with an interactive question-and-answer session, during which participants sought clarification on the ethical application of AI in research. The session reinforced LASU’s commitment to preparing postgraduate students and researchers to navigate the evolving AI landscape while upholding the highest standards of academic integrity and research excellence.