The Federal University of Health and Sciences (FUHSI), Ila-Orangun, in Osun, on Friday, trained 595 secondary school students on digital literacy skills and psychological interventions to curb cybercrime and online bullying.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the students were selected from five private and five public secondary schools in Ila-Orangun as part of the university’s social responsibility and cybercrime awareness initiative.
During the training, the students participated in a pre-test exercise, followed by workshops and post-test assessment on digital literacy, psychological skills, and cyber security red flags.
The Principal Investigator and leader of the FUHSI research team, Dr Zainab Oduola, said the training was designed to create awareness about cybercrime and educate students on how to avoid becoming victims.
Oduola commended the Federal Government, through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), for supporting the programme, noting that the beneficiaries gained valuable knowledge on preventing cybercrime.
She said many young people venture into cybercrime due to ignorance, peer pressure, and lack of proper guidance, which often disrupts their dreams and aspirations.
The research team lead urged parents and school principals to continue monitoring the students and consistently educating them on the dangers and consequences of cybercrime.
Oduola, however, encouraged the students to become good ambassadors of their schools and families by avoiding behaviours that could damage their reputation, while urging them to remain focused and determined to achieve their goals.
Dr Azeez Abioye, a lecturer in the Department of Library Science in the institution, described cybercrime as one of the negative outcomes of the invention of Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
Abioye said cyberbullying and related cybercrimes had adversely affected students’ mental health, finances, and overall well-being, stressing the need for increased awareness.
He said that the first step was to intensify awareness campaigns in schools and communities against cybercrime and online bullying.
According to him, digital literacy interventions and psychological support would significantly reduce cybercrime among students.
“Cybercrime often succeeds through victims unknowingly providing sensitive information such as passwords and One-Time Passwords (OTPs).
”Cybercriminals often create a sense of urgency, but with proper psychological awareness, one can easily identify such threats,” he said.
He further advised students to handle sensitive banking issues physically at their banks rather than online, where fraudsters could pose as legitimate agents.
Abioye, however, said the action-based research was made possible through TETFund’s intervention and called on the government to sustain and expand funding for similar initiatives.
Some of the invited schools include: Camilla Schools, Baptist High School, Al-Salam Group of Schools, Al-Huda College, MSSN Al-Irshad Islamic Model School, St. Julius Grammar School, Ajagunla Grammar School, Ila Grammar School, Igbonibi High School, and College High School.
Members of the research team include: Prof. Nafisat Adedokun-Shittu, Educational Technology, University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Mr. Oyinlola Onigbinde, Digital Services, Library and Information Science, and Mr. Arun Amoo, both members of staff of FUHSI.
