History Don condemns students for "stealing Intellectual Property".

Quadri Yahya reports:

Professor Ranti Ojo, a lecturer of history, University of Abuja, has vehemently condemned the practise of plagiarising recommended textbooks by students.

Prof Ojo said this on Monday during a combined lecture session of students at the departments of history; linguistics and Africa languages;political science, and diplomatic studies; Islamic studies; Christian Religion Studies, and English language and literary studies. 

The professor reiterated that he does not compel students to buy his textbook, yet some of them went ahead to make a soft copy of it. 

He stated that some students caught in the act  said they were only 'catching cruise'. 

In his words: "Intellectual property is like a life of a person. I sat down for over 10 years to write (the book) to assist you, and somebody went to plagiarise, and you are sharing it. When caught, he (student) said he was catching cruise.

"I don't compel you to buy my book; you can make a photocopy of pages you need or read from your friends. 

"Piracy and plagiarism is a very big crime.

"If you think you are smart, that smartness will one day lead you to where you won't like."

The lecturer advised the students against the act of plagiarism. But at that moment,  a female student was caught snapping the pages of the textbook.

This infuriated the professor, and he walked out of the lecture hall at 9 a.m. 

Prof Ranti is known for his punctuality for the two-hour lecture starting from 8:00 a.m. every Monday.