Professor Desmond Okocha, Dean of the School of Communication and Media, speaking at the event.
Written by Felix Canova
Professor Ayuba Haruna, Vice-Chancellor of Bingham University in Kalu, Nasarawa State, called for responsible and ethical use of artificial intelligence in academic research and writing, saying technology must be consistent with moral principles and human values.
Ayuba spoke at a training program for graduate students organized by Bingham University’s School of Communication and Media in collaboration with the Center for Continuing Professional Education, Faculty of Philosophy, RUDIN University, Russia.
He said this joint initiative reflects a spirit of academic excellence and international cooperation and provides a platform for knowledge exchange, capacity building and responsible use of emerging technologies.
“In an era characterized by rapid technological progress, the integration of ethical AI in academic research and writing along with innovative digital pedagogy has become essential in shaping the future of higher education,” he said.
According to the Vice-Chancellor, the use of artificial intelligence is becoming the norm in academia, and he stressed the need to ensure that its development and deployment is responsible, fair, transparent and respectful of human rights.
“If academics can minimize harm, prevent bias, protect privacy, and promote fairness and accountability in AI applications, we will have won a big battle,” he added.
Earlier, the Dean of the Faculty of Communication and Media, Professor Desmond Okocha, said that artificial intelligence has become a dominant force in all fields, especially in the field of education, and that artificial intelligence is the basis of all other fields.
He noted that discussions about AI often cover less than 10 percent of the entire ecosystem, and urged academics to understand the structure, tools, benefits, and legal implications of AI.
Okocha emphasized that AI is not a monolithic application as it can be used at various stages of academic research such as idea generation, research, assignments, and papers.
“AI is here to stay, but it will never replace humans. It will only augment humans’ ability to function in their environments,” he said.
Associate Professor Mustafa Jamiu from Russia’s RUDIN University also said in a speech that the training is part of a scholarship-based short course aimed at upskilling staff and students across African universities.
He said the program, which began in 2023, is expected to be hosted in eight universities across Nigeria in the coming weeks.
Jamiu explained that the Bingham University course focuses on implementing ethical AI in academic research and writing for graduate students and academics.
“The fact is, AI is here to stay. We can’t stop students from using it. The only thing we have to do is leverage it as a tool of our time,” he said.
Professor Ayodele Joseph, director of the Center for Digital Inequality and Social Informatics at Kaduna State University, warned that while AI has its benefits, it also risks making academics lazy if misused.
“The use of AI is not a bad thing, but it should be done ethically. Students should understand how to use AI and not allow AI to use it,” he said.
He advised students to verify the information generated by AI tools to ensure that their work is original and accurate.
