The Rotary Club of Lagos, in partnership with Cybernovr, hosted a pivotal Cybersecurity Awareness and Empowerment Programme for select students across various schools in Lagos State. recently.
The event, held in alignment with Rotary International’s focus on Basic Education and Literacy, aimed to redefine literacy for the 21st century by equipping students with essential digital knowledge.
During the programme, Rotary Club of Lagos President, Toki Mabogunje, emphasized the urgent need for students to pay close attention. “The world is fast-changing and it’s going to go faster and faster,” she stated. “One of the purposes of this program is to equip you with the knowledge to navigate through this dynamic world.”
While traditional literacy focuses on reading and writing, the Rotary Club of Lagos believes that true literacy today must include digital literacy and cybersecurity awareness. In an age where students are constant digital citizens, understanding topics like phishing, strong passwords, and digital footprints is no longer a luxury but a necessity for safe participation in modern society. This initiative is a direct and necessary evolution of Rotary’s mission to provide youth with foundational skills.
The programme was designed to be both educational and inspirational, with facilitators, participants, and volunteers coming together for a common cause. The curriculum centered on key topics including:
Identify Management, Cyber Threat Awareness, Ethical Hacking, Cyber Laws and Regulations, Digital Literacy, Data Privacy Management, Responsible Use of Social Media, Cyber Hygiene Practices, Inspiring Future Leaders.
The event’s facilitator, Kazeem Durodoye, Chief Executive Officer of Cybernovr Limited, challenged the students to embrace a mindset of “Service Above Self,” a core tenet of Rotary. “You too can be great,” he said, highlighting the power of vision, hard work, and tenacity. He shared his own success story as a cybersecurity professional, noting that the field offers a fantastic career path with opportunities to earn well and, more importantly, to serve humanity.
Durodoye encouraged students to use their skills to solve real-world problems. He noted that banks and their customers are constantly targeted by fraudsters, creating a high demand for young, innovative minds to create solutions. “The essence of the program is to give you the right mindset, skillset, and tools,” he told the participants. “Whatever you put your mind to is achievable.”
This programme not only provided critical knowledge but also aimed to inspire students to be active participants in shaping a safer digital world. By fostering ethical and responsible digital citizenship, the Rotary Club of Lagos is extending its commitment to character development and community welfare into the digital realm, nurturing a new generation of empathetic and ethical leaders.
Following this awareness programme, participants will be enrolled for a 20-hour/10-module further training via a digital learning Management System provided by Cybernovr.
