Cybergon, an international leading cybersecurity firm licensed by the Federal Government of Nigeria, has announced the launch of an innovative extracurricular activity aimed at equipping secondary school students, parents, and schools with the skills and knowledge to combat cyberattacks.
The initiative, dubbed ‘Project 14’, aims to develop young cyber warriors who are prepared to defend themselves and their communities against the growing threat of cybercrime.
Benedict Ugwuja, a cybersecurity expert leading the team on the project, emphasised the importance of early education in cybersecurity, comparing it to sex education. “We want to catch them young because if you don’t teach a child the right thing the right way, they will learn the right thing the wrong way, which makes it more difficult to manage,” Ugwuja stated.
The program will focus on protecting students from various cyber threats, including kidnappers tracking them online, cyber stalking, identify theft, espionage, phishing attacks, sextortion, social engineering attacks, cyberbullying and other forms of cyber attacks.
Ugwuja highlighted that with 70% of educational facilities having gone digital, there was an urgent need to protect the environments. “Any school that can protect its digital infrastructure can protect your child,” he added.
As part of Project 14, schools that join the initiative will have a state-of-the-art cybersecurity lab installed on their premises. The labs, equipped with the latest software, gadgets, and tools, were designed to provide hands-on training in practical cybersecurity and ethical hacking. Ugwuja proudly noted, “Our cybersecurity and ethical hacking labs are world-class, on par with those found in top foreign institutions. No university in Nigeria currently has the type of lab we are building for these schools.”
The project is already gaining traction, with schools in Abuja, Lagos, Enugu, Oyo, Ogun, Kano, Kaduna, Rivers, Delta, and other states signing up. Cybergon Cybersecurity has begun deploying the first phase of the laboratories, marking a significant step forward in Nigeria’s efforts to improve cybersecurity education.
Ugwuja also pointed out that the initiative would help schools understand their cybersecurity obligations, ensuring that they are better prepared to protect their digital infrastructure and, by extension, their students.
Project 14 is a national initiative, and CYBERGON is inviting universities and other partners to join the effort. “This is more than just a school project; it’s a national project,” Ugwuja reiterated, adding, “we will welcome partners across the world to boost our reach.”
As Cybergon Cybersecurity continues to roll out Project 14 across the country, it is clear that the initiative will play a crucial role in safeguarding Nigeria’s future by empowering the next generation with the skills they need to thrive in an increasingly digital world.
“We have trained over 12,000 professionals worldwide and security agencies on cybersecurity and the young students have been left out in the cybersecurity defense chain, Security is not judtbf9r IT or persons interested in ICT, cybersecurity is for everyone because you MUST have something to do with the internet to be able to succeed. I always say in my quote, to teach people how to succeed teach them how to hack,” he added.
Discussing with stakeholders, Ugwuja also stated that “Security is not guaranteed until the cybersecurity chain is secured.”
He, therefore, called on ochools, parents, and partners are encouraged to come on board and be part of this transformative journey to safeguard the next generation.
“After our first batch deployment, the students will become professionals in training and will be incharge of defending or protecting their home, parent’s business and school digital assets as charity begins at home.
“CYBERGON is also inviting universities, government security agencies, non-governmental organisations and other partners around the world to join this national project. This initiative will help schools understand their cybersecurity obligations and strengthen their defenses against cyber threats.”