WEAVING THE DIGITAL SAFETY NET: INTEGRATING CYBERSECURITY FUNDAMENTALS INTO CORE INFORMATION LITERACY CURRICULA IN NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES – A CRITICAL REVIEW

Abstract

Nigeria's rapid digitalization, coupled with escalating cyber threats targeting individuals and institutions, necessitates a workforce equipped with robust cybersecurity awareness and information literacy (IL) skills. While IL programs exist in Nigerian tertiary institutions, their integration of fundamental cybersecurity concepts remains underdeveloped and inconsistent. This mixed-methods study critically evaluates the current state of cybersecurity integration within mandatory IL curricula across a representative sample of Nigerian universities colleges and polytechnics. Through document analysis of curriculum guides, surveys of librarians and IL instructors, and focus groups with students, the research identifies significant gaps, perceived barriers (including faculty training, resource constraints, and institutional priorities), and assesses the correlation between received instruction and student self-reported cybersecurity practices. Findings reveal a predominant focus on traditional information searching and evaluation, with cybersecurity often relegated to optional workshops or absent entirely. The study proposes a contextually relevant, phased framework for sustainable integration, arguing that cybersecurity is not an add-on but an essential pillar of modern information literacy crucial for national digital resilience and graduate employability. Recommendations target curriculum developers, librarians, university management, and regulatory bodies like the National Universities Commission (NUC).