A new virus, in the form of thesis writing racketeering, which is currently ravaging Nigeria’s university system, requires urgent attention of stakeholders in the education sector, GRACE EDEMA repo...
A new virus, in the form of thesis writing racketeering, which is currently ravaging Nigeria’s university system, requires urgent attention of stakeholders in the education sector,To qualify for a degree in a Nigerian university, every undergraduate in his final year is expected to fulfill an all-important academic requirement, which is to write and submit a thesis or long essay, also known as project.
This racket is gradually assuming a global dimension. Reports from the United Kingdom indicate that in some tertiary institutions an Indian syndicate speciallises in writing theses for all levels of students at specified fees. Students were seen moving in and out of this mini-shopping hub. Some loitered around Emeka’s computer service shop as he attended to their needs.
“There is nothing you want that you will not find on the Internet, but I make sure I use my own words so it doesn’t look like a plagiarised work. I have been writing theses since 2008 when I was an undergraduate. The least grade my customers get is a C, but majority of them get a ‘B’,” he said. “During my time as a class rep in 2019, some supervisors actually asked me to charge N50, 000 for any student who showed interest in being helped with his or her project.
Yemi also said he was still in the business of thesis writing for final-year students in his school and neighbouring institutions.It would be interesting to learn that the business of thesis writing is also done digitally. A search on Google showed some websites where some people had uploaded several research topics and works that students/researchers can make use of, pay via electronics, get a code after payment is confirmed and download is completed.
When our correspondent complained of not being able to make online payment due to poor network, she sent three different account numbers with same account name. According to him, during his time as an undergraduate in the University of Nsukka, students always travelled to universities in other states to get old theses and make photocopies before submitting them to their unsuspecting supervisors.
If the education sector would want to be relevant and valuable, it is high time the government deployed means of tackling this menace which has eaten deep in to the fabrics of the academic sector. Aladesanmi explained further that when mercenaries were used, it means students could not effectively defend the certificates, adding that such people formed the bulk of ‘unemployable graduates’.
Also, a lecturer at the Lagos State University lecturer, Dr Gbenga Owolabi, added, “The implications are grave. It will diminish the quality of research output we present to the outside. Many of the students who indulge in such act will never be able to carry out any research on their own. To study in a sane society will be difficult for such students.”In as much as thesis writing helps to build research skill of an outgoing student, it also helps to build innovative capacities.
“In the first instance, lecturers have the sole responsibility of adequately teaching their students all they need to know on research procedures. Also, students must be ready to learn and always pay attention in classes to acquire the requisite knowledge. In fact, students must be willing to learn the art of writing research projects. Institutions of higher learning must also provide conducive environment and opportunities for students and lecturers to achieve this aim.
Nigeria Latest News, Nigeria Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
UNIUYO fights against reinstatement of lecturer unjustly sacked 18 years agoThe University of Uyo has gone to the Court of Appeal, Calabar, to challenge an order of a lower court asking it to reinstate a lecturer it unjustly sacked 18 years ago.
Read more »
EXCLUSIVE: How Nigeria Customs Service Officials Bypass Security Checks At Lagos Airport To Illegally Move Cash For Passengers | Sahara ReportersFurther findings by SaharaReporters reveals that customs officials in connivance with some other security agents were involved in the racketeering.
Read more »
StackPath
Read more »
Vacancies for investigative reporters, copy editors, mobile app developer, project accountantPUNCH Nigeria Limited, publishers of Nigeria’s leading and most widely read newspaper and digital titles, is seeking ethical, resourceful, experienced and enterprising professionals to fill the fol...
Read more »
Constituency project badly misconstrued by Nigerians, says Lawan
Read more »
NNPC, Shell, others disburse $360m for Ogoni Clean-up – Daily TrustThe Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and its Joint Venture partners made up of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Total Exploration and Production of Nigeria (TEPNG) and Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), have disbursed $360million towards the Ogoniland Clean-Up project as recommended by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Read more »