…… Says graduates lack digital safety skills, warns of AI misuse
A cybersecurity expert, Professor Boniface Kayode Alese, has called on the Federal Government to introduce compulsory Cybersecurity Awareness and Ethical Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) courses into the General Studies (GST) curriculum of tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
Alese, who lectures at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), raised the alarm over what he described as a “dangerous gap” in digital safety education, saying most Nigerian graduates leave school ill-prepared to navigate or contribute responsibly in an increasingly digital world.
In a post on FUTA’s official Facebook page, the don stated, “The reality today is that AI is already embedded in our daily lives. Without proper training on the ethical use of AI, its misuse could become counterproductive to both individuals and the nation.”
He added that Nigeria’s aggressive drive toward IT-driven infrastructure risks severe exposure to cyber threats if cybersecurity education remains sidelined.
“Our critical digital infrastructure may be undermined if we don’t urgently prioritise Cybersecurity Awareness at all levels of education,” he said.
According to the professor, cyberattacks such as phishing, identity theft, online fraud, and ransomware are on the rise in Nigeria, with students and youths being both primary targets and, in some cases, unwitting accomplices.
He noted that many students are digitally literate but not cyber-literate — a distinction he said is critical.
“They know how to use digital devices, but lack awareness about online safety, data privacy, or even how to spot phishing scams,” Alese said.
He argued that equipping students with such knowledge is no longer optional but necessary for national security, economic resilience, and digital sovereignty.
Alese also expressed concern over the unregulated use of AI tools like facial recognition, biometric verification systems, and chatbots, warning that without ethical grounding, AI technologies could reinforce racial, gender, and socioeconomic biases, or be misused in areas like academic work.
“Ethics must guide AI development and use. We need to embed human dignity, fairness, and privacy into every digital tool we create or use,” he noted.
As a solution, the professor recommended the introduction of two-unit compulsory GST courses—one on Cybersecurity Awareness and another on AI Ethics—for all undergraduates, irrespective of their field of study.
Proposed modules under the cybersecurity course include password hygiene, phishing detection, digital ethics, and safe online practices, while AI-related topics should cover algorithmic bias, data governance, human rights, and transparency. “This is a national call to action. Our educational system must produce digitally responsible graduates who can contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s digital economy,” Alese concluded.
“This is a national call to action. Our educational system must produce digitally responsible graduates who can contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s digital economy,” Alese concluded.
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