Please, no one should take this comment as a personal attack. I do not have anyone in mind before writing it. Only Nigerian writers or commentators cite Wikipedia or rely on Wikipedia for their research work. Wikipedia is NEVER a reliable, authentic, or dependable source of your information. And it is forbidden in academic settings.
I am not the one or only one holding this position. It is the standard all over the world, except in Nigeria and by Nigerian-based writers and commentators. For instance, if you go to the commentary sections in most of the stories in Sahara Reporters, Vanguard, or Punch newspaper, you will come across foreign-based Nigerians, especially the younger generations who got their degrees from overseas, lampooning home-based commentators for engaging in cut and paste from Wikipedia.
Citing Wikipedia is the second warning they give to you during your orientation or first class in graduate schools in the US, especially to foreign students. The first warning is Plagiarism. Citing Wikipedia is automatically a failing grade in that course or assignment. Plagiarism, on the other hand, most often, leads to the withdrawal of your degree or certificate.
Please, this is not an issue for debate: tell your friends, tell your co-workers, and tell your children. And if you are a Lecturer in the house, please, tell your students - to abstain from citing or relying on materials from Wikipedia. They are forbidden fruits.
So, why is Wikipedia forbidden in academic settings? Simple. The materials or information are not verifiable. And though substantive in most cases, they can disappear, be edited, or corrupted by anyone at any moment.
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