The Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria, ACSPN, has decried what it described as the growing problem of plagiarism in Nigeria.
The association said plagiarism has become a recurring decimal not only in academic circles, but also in the media industry in Nigeria.
It says while the trend has continued to affect the credibility of the nation’s educational system, steps have to be taken to halt its progression. In this respect, the ACSPN, began an empowerment series for stakeholders in Lagos on Tuesday, May 13, 2014.
The maiden edition of the series, which held at Conference Hall 11, Grace & Mercy Associates Limited, Oba Akran Avenue, Ikeja, attracted notable communication scholars and academics in Nigeria.
Some of the scholars at the event include Prof. Idowu Shobowale, Head, Mass Communication department, Covenant University, CU, Ota, Ogun State; Prof. Andrew Moemeka, also from CU; Prof. Nosa Owens-Ibie, lecturer, Caleb University, Imota, Lagos; and Dr. Rotimi Olatunji, Associate professor, Lagos State University School of Communication. Others include Tunde Kajogbola, CEO, G&M Associates and Ayo Oluwatosin, Group CEO, Rosabel Adevertising.
Moemeka, in his address, described plagiarism as a theft of idea and an academic sin, admonished participants to eschew plagiarism in whatever form it appears if they desire to excel in their careers.
“In academia, intellectual properties are not hidden, but are open for anyone to criticize, use and quote; it is imperative for us to protect and preserve the integrity of any academic work. Do not use someone’s ideas in your thesis, projects, and presentations without giving credits to the source. The role of citation and referencing cannot be over-emphasized in academics. We must begin the fight against plagiarism with ourselves,” Moemeka stressed.
Shobowale, who bemoaned fading reading culture among Nigerians, urged young people in the academics to always seek collaborations from their senior colleagues in the field.
“It is not altogether wrong for young academics to write books, but they must seek the collaborations of their senior colleagues. Anything that will come out from anybody in this field must be something all of us will be proud of,” Shobowale said.
WhatsApp us