Tech group drills UNIZIK students on cyber security

BY Chinaza Osigwe, Awka

A Tech group known as Digital policy lab for Africa has trained undergraduate students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, on cyber security.

The training tagged “what the future wants” was carried out by the group’s representative, Miss Stephen Favour, at the Mass Communication department of the institution on Monday.

Favour who happens to be a recent graduate of the UNIZIK Mass Communication department stated that the aim was to inculcate in students the knowledge of cyber security and other technology related security.

Noting that the group specializes on training of young undergraduates on cyber security, she said: “I was mandated to organize the summit by the tech group and it is going to be in batches of thirty students each. We are trying to create awareness on Cyber security and hat we are after is for everyone to be part of it.”

One of the organizers, Mr. Nwabueze Kingsley, while also commenting on the aims of the programme, stated that the summit was to enlighten the youths on how to safely navigate through the net, detect misinformation and disinformation on the internet and most importantly how to lock phones with secure passwords to avoid hacking.

He said; “we try to enlighten the young Nigerian on how to properly navigate the internet safely and also steps on creating a secure password.”

Addressing the students, a lecturer at the department of Mass Communication,  Dr Henry Duru advised the students to take information they see on the social media with a pinch of salt whilst giving guidelines on how to detect fake information.

“You have to be careful of the information you receive on social media as most of them are lies. Cross-check information you get with these three steps, firstly, check the medium or source of the news. Secondly, check the possible intentions of the poster and finally, think of the likelihood of such happening.” He gave instance of the scenario where salt was publicized as giving protection from Ebola virus.

Dr Duru aptly stated that misinformation and disinformation has led many to their untimely death and warned that every citizen must desist from it.

Expressing their joy at the opportunity of the summit, Nwogodo Gospel and Obiorah Ifeoma , both 100 level students described the summit as interesting and affirmed that the seminar impacted their lives hugely and in a positive way.

On her own, Igbaro Oluwatoyin of 200 level said she learnt how to escape from hackers by having a secure password and also manage her location to avoid being tracked by hoodlums. She described the summit as timely and perfect, adding that it was enriching.

Similarly, a 400 level student, Miracle Opara confessed that the event was educative. She said; “I learnt quite a lot about misinformation and disinformation which has caused series of harm on individuals and the society at large. During times of tension, people depend on the media for whole lot information and most times, this leads to swallowing all information hook, line and sinker.”  She encouraged everyone to always confirm the validity of information before sharing or believing.