Generative AI Policy

THE INCUBATOR: Journal of Postgraduate Studies, Federal University of Lafia upholds the principles of originality, intellectual responsibility, transparency, and research integrity. In line with these principles, the journal does not permit Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) tools to be used to write, interpret, analyse, or generate the substantive scholarly content of a manuscript.

Authors are fully responsible for the originality, accuracy, arguments, citations, interpretations, and conclusions presented in their work. A manuscript must reflect the genuine intellectual contribution of the author(s), not machine-generated scholarship.

GenAI tools may be used only in a strictly limited and non-substantive manner, such as for minor language improvement, spelling correction, grammar checking, or formatting support, provided such use does not alter the intellectual content of the manuscript. Such limited use must not result in fabricated facts, false citations, distorted interpretation, or misleading text.

The following are not permitted:

  • Use of GenAI to draft or rewrite substantial parts of a manuscript
  • Use of GenAI to generate literature reviews, analysis, discussion, results, or conclusions
  • Use of GenAI to create, alter, or manipulate data, images, figures, or research findings in a misleading way
  • Use of GenAI to generate fictitious references, inaccurate citations, or unverifiable claims
  • Listing AI tools as authors

Where any AI-assisted tool has been used for minor editorial support, the author may be required to disclose this during submission. Such disclosure does not remove the author’s full responsibility for the entire content of the manuscript.

Editors and reviewers must also not upload confidential manuscripts, peer-review files, or unpublished data into public GenAI systems or tools that may compromise confidentiality, copyright, or data security.

The journal reserves the right to screen submissions for AI-generated content. Where the use of GenAI is judged to be inconsistent with this policy, the manuscript may be rejected, returned for clarification, or subjected to further editorial action.