Okebukola condemns plagiarism in Nigerian Universities
Titus Akhigbe, Benin-City
The former Executive Chairman, National University Commission (NUC), Prof. Peter Okebukola, said 60 percent of under graduates’ course projects in the Nigerian university system are plagiarised. Prof Okebukola stated this at the Edo State University, Iyamho during the commissioning of the CANVAS Learning Management System (LMS) in the institution. He said at times a whole project is either plagiarised or some elements in it are copy and paste, explaining that in those days they have detecting software that are embedded in the software which detect plagiarism. “Plagiarism means copy from somebody without attributing it to the person. Many of our students, even lecturers will just go to Wikipedia and copy the page and past it as if they are the authors. So when the lecturer, who may be because of the volume of the work could not go through, will say my students are brilliant not knowing that they are copy desk,” he said. Prof Okebukola noted that LMS will open the institution to the world, enhance the digital learning of students and staff, describing LMC as a system that allowed instructors to interact with students and monitored their attendance in class. He however urged the institution to apply to the NUC for distance learning so as to derive the benefit of the LMS. The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu represented by the Registrar, National Board for Technical Examination Board (NABTEB) Prof. Professor Ifeoma Mercy Isiugo-Abanihe, said the development will not only benefit the university, it will facilitate the interaction among teachers and students, parents and other stake holders. He urged the institution to collaborate with critical stakeholders in the industrial and manufacturing and agricultural sector for maximum utilisation of the facility. On his part, the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof Emmanuel Aluyor, assured that the university will keep up the introduction technology until it achieves its feat as one of the best universities in the world.
