10th U6+ Consortium of African Universities International Conference

The growing integration of digital technologies into higher education has increased undergraduates’ exposure to cyber threats such as phishing, ransomware, cyber spoofing, and malicious encryption. Although digital platforms have enhanced teaching and learning, many students still lack the practical cybersecurity competencies needed to recognize and respond effectively to online threats. This study investigated the effect of cybersecurity training on cyberattacks reduction among undergraduates in University of Ilorin, Nigeria. The study adopted a one-group pre-test post-test quasi-experimental design. 30 undergraduates were selected through a multi-stage sampling procedure involving purposive and simple random sampling techniques. The intervention was a researcher-developed Cybersecurity Training Presentation Package designed to improve students’ cybersecurity knowledge and protective behaviours. Data were collected using the Cybersecurity Knowledge and Behavioural Test (CKBAT), while expert evaluation instruments were used to assess the instructional and technical quality of the training package. Descriptive statistics, including frequency counts, percentages, means, and standard deviations, were used to answer the research questions, while Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was employed to test the hypotheses at the 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that Educational Technology and Computer Science experts rated the training package instructionally suitable and technically accurate for undergraduate learners. The results further showed that the cybersecurity training package improved students’ knowledge and understanding of cybersecurity concepts and contributed to reduction in their vulnerability to cyber threats. Undergraduates also demonstrated a positive attitude toward the use of the training package. Furthermore, no significant differences were found in participants’ performance based on gender or field of study. The study concluded that cybersecurity training is an effective approach for improving cybersecurity awareness, knowledge, and protective practices among undergraduates. It therefore recommended the integration of structured cybersecurity training into university programmes to strengthen students’ cyber resilience and promote safer digital behaviours.