When Lagos State University student Splendour Agbo submitted his thesis for review, he expected feedback on his research, not accusations of using artificial intelligence.
“The coordinator told me my work was great, but insisted I used AI for most of the literature review,” Agbo said. He denied the claim but left the meeting discouraged. It was not his first accusation.
Across Nigeria’s universities, a quiet academic crisis is brewing. Lecturers say AI tools are reshaping student research, often blurring the line between genuine scholarship and machine-generated text.
A recent survey found that over 60% of lecturers believe generative AI has weakened research quality. Many now judge work by how “AI-like” it appears — polished grammar, neat paragraphs and a consistent style.
Students admit to using AI, but mainly for summarising readings, refining drafts, or finding study materials. “I use ChatGPT to understand topics my lecturers rush through,” said Oluwaseun Malik, a final-year student in Akoka.
Lecturers, however, point to fabricated references, overly formal writing and recycled content as signs of AI overuse.
Some universities have begun drafting policies to regulate the use of AI, while others lack clear rules or practical detection tools. Nevertheless, as one lecturer warns, “If students rely on AI to write their work, we risk losing originality, critical thinking and genuine scholarship.”
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