Secured Delta Project

Nigeria is often recognized as a global hotspot for cybercrime, with reports from institutions like Oxford University ranking the country among the top five regions associated with cybercriminal activity. However, what is less known is that Nigerian citizens themselves are not exempt from the devastating impacts of these crimes. While cybersecurity awareness programs are gaining traction nationwide with organizations like Diary of Hackers leading the charge Delta State remains notably underserved in this regard. To bridge this gap, the Secure Delta project was birthed as a grassroots initiative empowering students, market traders, and civil servants with practical cybersecurity knowledge and awareness to protect one self from cyber crime.

Project Overview

The Secured Delta Project ran throughout October 2024, aligning with Cybersecurity Awareness Month themed “Secure Our World”.

Mission & Objectives

The project was designed with three core objectives:

• Educate: Provide cybersecurity literacy to individuals with little or no prior knowledge.

• Demonstrate: Use real-life simulations to expose vulnerabilities and teach best security practices.

Empower: Equip participants with the knowledge and tools needed to secure their online activities effectively.

Target Audience

• Students – To instill cybersecurity awareness at a young age.

• Market Traders – As small business owners and digital finance users, they are frequently targeted by scams.

• Civil Servants – Many government employees handle sensitive data but lack cybersecurity training.

• Retirees – Often unfamiliar with digital threats, making them prime targets for online fraud.

Project Team

The initiative was spearheaded by Ogheneteguonor Michelle Mukoro, supported by a dedicated team of cybersecurity enthusiasts, data analyst, and backend developer including:

• Mamuro Oyiboluawhore

• Faithful Adeda

• Jerry Ogheneruemu Efedue

• Other volunteers passionate about cybersecurity advocacy.

  Key Locations: Ughelli main market, Oharisi Secondary School, Afriportal Network Limited amongst others

Key Findings: Uncovering Cyber Weaknesses in Delta State

1. Weak Password Practices

During the project, we discovered from simulation using zphisher that 80% of participants — including students, civil servants and traders used easily guessable passwords like their names, date of birth and phone numbers. Many users opt for convenience over security, unaware of how easily attackers can exploit weak passwords.

Actions carried out:

• Encourage participants to u ssphrases instead of simple passwords (e.g., "SecureNigeria2024!").

• Promote password managers for secure storage of credentials.

• Educate users on changing passwords regularly and avoiding password reuse.

2. Low Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Adoption

Despite promoting MFA as a simple, effective way to protect accounts, less than 15% of participants had enabled it. Most market traders didn’t even know the function of these feature or how to enable it.

Actions carried out:

• we showed Live demonstrations on enabling MFA across various platforms (banking apps, emails, social media) and one-on-one guidance for traders unfamiliar with online security settings.

3. High Susceptibility to Phishing Attacks

Many participants were unable to recognize phishing attempts. A lot of participant clicked on fake phishing links and were willing to provide sensitive information without verifying sources.

Actions carried out:

• Taught participants to verify website URLs before entering credentials using virustotal.com.

• We also encourage the use of anti-phishing browser extensions.

Project Impact & Next Steps

Impact

• Reached over 500+ individuals across various demographics.

• Live demonstrations and interactive exercises improved practical cybersecurity skills.

• Increased MFA adoption rates among participants post-training.

• Strengthened community engagement with cybersecurity advocacy.

Future Plans

To ensure sustainability, the Secured Delta Project plans to:

1. Expand outreach to rural areas where cybersecurity awareness is even lower.

2. Partner with local government bodies to integrate cybersecurity training into civil service onboarding programs.

Conclusion

Cyber threats continue to evolve, and cybersecurity is not a one-time effort—it requires continuous education and vigilance. The Secured Delta Project has taken a critical step in bridging the cybersecurity awareness gap in Delta State. However, more work needs to be done. By collaborating with government agencies, private sector players, and local communities, we can build a digitally secure Delta State and empower citizens to take charge of their online safety.

Call to Action

We invite stakeholders, cybersecurity professionals, and policymakers to join us in expanding this initiative. Together, we can create a cyber-resilient Delta State.

For partnerships, training opportunities, or more information, contact: [mukoromichelle03@gmail.com, 08134465129]

Photos from the project