Veritatis Gaudium: Multidisciplinary Journal of Postgraduate Studies

This paper examined the role of digital literacy as a transformative tool for enhancing cybersecurity awareness and promoting sustainable development in Nigeria. As digital technologies become increasingly embedded in social, economic, and governance structures, the ability to navigate digital environments safely and competently has emerged as a critical competency for Nigerian citizens. Despite growing internet penetration across the country, significant gaps persist in digital skills, cybersecurity knowledge, and awareness of online threats, leaving individuals and institutions vulnerable to cyberattacks, misinformation, and digital exclusion. The study adopted a library-based approach, drawing on extant literature to explore how digital literacy influences cybersecurity behaviour and sustainable development outcomes. Anchored on Rogers' (1962) Diffusion of Innovations theory, the paper argues that the adoption and spread of digital literacy practices across Nigerian communities can stimulate informed, responsible, and secure digital engagement. Findings from the reviewed literature suggest that digitally literate individuals demonstrate stronger cybersecurity behaviours, including password management, phishing identification, and safe browsing. Furthermore, digital literacy is identified as a facilitating condition for achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 (good health and well-being) and broader SDG targets through improved access to information, e-governance, and digital economic participation. The paper recommends robust investment in national digital literacy programmes, integration of cybersecurity education into school curricula, and multi-stakeholder collaboration to bridge the digital divide in Nigeria.

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