An Assessment of Cybersecurity Awareness among Students of Tertiary Institutions in Zaria

Agballa U. B., Umar Kabir, Abdullahi O. A., Hassan M. G., Bello Musbahudeen, Bashir Abdulrahman, Karagama I. M.

Abstract


The rapid growth of internet usage and digital technologies has increased students’ exposure to cyber threats, particularly within tertiary institutions. Cybersecurity awareness is essential for protecting personal data, institutional systems, and national digital infrastructure. This study conducted a survey across eight tertiary institutions in Zaria, selecting 100 respondents from each institution, this includes Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic, the Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Technology (NILEST), Federal University of Education (FUE) Zaria, ABU College of Health Sciences, ABU Division of Agricultural Colleges, the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), and St. Luke’s College of Nursing, using a systematic convenience sampling method. Data on students’ cybersecurity awareness were collected through a paper-based questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 17. The findings reveal moderate awareness levels, with significant gaps in practical cybersecurity behaviors such as password management, phishing detection, and data protection. The study recommends the integration of cybersecurity education into academic curricula, increased institutional awareness programs, and policy-driven interventions to enhance students’ cybersecurity preparedness. 


Full Text:

PDF

References


Aliyu, M., Tambuwal, A. B., Namahe, Y. U. (2020). Investigating Factors and Extenuation Strategies for Mobile Phone Use While Driving in Nigeria. Caliphate Journal of Science & Technology (CaJoST), Vol. 2(2).

Aneke, S. O., Nweke, E. O., Udanor, C. N., Ogbodo, I. A., Ezugwu, A. O., Uguwishiwu, C. H., & Ezema, M. E. (2020). Towards Determining Cybercrime Technology Evolution in Nigeria. International Journal of Latest Technology in Engineering, Management & Applied Science (IJLTEMAS) Vol. IX, Issue IV, April 2020 | ISSN 2278-2540

Awhefeada, U. V., & Bernice, O. O. (2020). Appraising the Laws Governing the Control of Cybercrime in Nigeria. Journal of Law and Criminal Justice, 8(1), 30-49.

Ezeanokwasa, J. O. (2019). Child Pornography under the Cybercrimes Act 2015 of Nigeria: The Law its challenges. African Journal of Criminal Law and Jurisprudence, 4.

Omodunbi, B. A., Odiase, P. O., Olaniyan, O. M., & Esan, A. O. (2016). Cybercrimes in Nigeria: Analysis, detection and prevention. Journal of Engineering and Technology, 1(1), 37-42 http://engineering.fuoye.edu.ng/journal/index.php/engineer/article/

Osho, O., & Adepoju, S. A. (2016). Cybercafés in Nigeria: Curse to the Internet. International Conference on Information and Communication Technology and Its Applications ICTA 2016, 117-123

Kshetri, N. (2019). Cybercrime and cybersecurity in Africa. Journal of Global Information Technology Managament, 22:2, 77-81, https://doi.org/10.1080/1097198X.2019.160 3527

Makeri, Y. A. (2017). Cyber Security Issues in Nigeria and Challenges. International Journal Advanced Research in Computer Science and Software Engineering, 7(4).

Senthilkumar, K.; Easwaramoorthy, S. A Survey on Cyber Security Awareness Among College Students in Tamil Nadu. IOP Conf. Ser. Mater. Sci. Eng. 2017, 263, 042043.

Tirumala S. S., A. Sarrafzadeh and P. Pang, "A survey on internet usage and cybersecurity awareness in students," 2016 14th Annual Conference on Privacy, Security and Trust (PST), Auckland, New Zealand, 2016, pp. 223-228, doi: 10.1109/PST.2016.7906931.


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.