Scholars and researchers have expressed concern over the growing use of artificial intelligence tools in academic work, warning that it is fuelling a new wave of plagiarism and weakening research integrity.
Keynote speaker, Prof Laurent Fourchard of SciencesPo, Centre for International Studies, France, raised the concern on Thursday at the 10th Annual Lagos Studies Association Conference themed “The State of African Studies in the 21st Century: The Lagos Studies Association at 10,” held at Trinity University, Yaba, Lagos.
Addressing concerns about AI-driven plagiarism, Fourchard said academic boards are increasingly detecting cases of copied or machine-generated work in scholarly submissions.
“I’m on different journal boards, and 10 years ago I’ve never seen any kind of plagiarism. Now I see papers coming from Nigeria, but not only from Nigeria, but also from France.
You see, oh, this is plagiarism,” he said.
He warned that some submissions show clear reliance on artificial intelligence without intellectual engagement, adding that such cases are becoming easier to identify and reject.
“There are different tools to fight against plagiarism. You have to be careful. You have to read carefully, and you can see if there is plagiarism. It’s more work for academics to fight this,” he added.
On notions of declining research interest among students, the professor said he could not confirm a drop in engagement, noting instead that conferences like the LSA have recorded growing participation over the years.
“I was at the first LSA conference in 2016; there were nine panels. Today there are 240 or 340 panels. It means thousands of students are interested in social sciences,” he said.
However, he noted that the academic environment remains challenging, particularly with poor remuneration and long career pathways, which may discourage some prospective scholars.
He stressed the need for sustained government support for the social sciences and humanities, describing them as essential tools for understanding society.
Fourchard, a professor of political science and history at Sciences Po University, urged academics and students across Nigeria, France and other countries to strengthen empirical, ethnographic and visual research methods as a way of deepening knowledge production.
He explained that ethnographic research requires sustained field engagement and observation of social realities, noting that it remains central to credible scholarship.
“So the idea of the paper is to invite academics and students in France, in Nigeria, all over the world to do more empirical research, to do ethnographic research and visual method research,” he said.
The Co-founder and Founding President of the Lagos Studies Association, Prof Saheed Aderinto, said the conference’s 10th anniversary reflects a decade of efforts to promote African-centred research and strengthen the continent’s place in global knowledge production.
“It’s about knowledge. We are bringing together scholars from all over the world to discuss Africa and its place in global studies,” he said.
He added that the presence of international scholars in Lagos also contributes to the local economy through tourism and related activities.
The Vice-Chancellor of Trinity University, Prof Clement Kolawole, said Africa’s vast human and natural resources make it central to global development, urging stronger international collaboration and investment.
He noted that the conference, which began in New York a decade ago, had moved to Nigeria to deepen African participation in discussions about the continent’s future.
“Africa is going to be the focus of global development, and we need to join hands in projecting that,” he said.
The conference brought together scholars, policymakers and researchers from across Africa and the diaspora to reflect on the evolution of African studies and the role of the Lagos Studies Association in advancing the field.
