JOURNAL OF CURRENT DISCOURSE AND RESEARCH (JCDR)

BALANCING INNOVATION AND INTEGRITY: ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS OF AI USE IN NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES

Abstract

This paper examines the ethical implications of artificial intelligence (AI) use in Nigerian universities, focusing on the tension between technological innovation and academic integrity. The growing adoption of AI has improved administrative efficiency and academic activities, including personalized learning, research support, and automated processes such as grading and student record management. However, these advancements have introduced ethical challenges, particularly the misuse of AI for academic malpractice, overreliance on automated systems, and the erosion of critical thinking skills. Using a conceptual approach based on secondary data from empirical studies, the study explores how unregulated AI usage may undermine the integrity and credibility of higher education in Nigeria. It highlights key concerns, such as AI-assisted cheating, intellectual dependency and the absence of clear institutional guidelines. The paper argues that balancing innovation with integrity requires ethical frameworks suited to the Nigerian context, alongside institutional policies and digital literacy initiatives to ensure the responsible use of AI in Nigerian universities.