Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of University Students to Data Privacy: a Case Study of University of Ilorin Students

This study explores the knowledge, attitude, and practices of university students regarding data privacy, using the University of Ilorin as a case study. In an era of increasing digital interactions, data privacy has become an essential concern, especially among students who frequently engage with online platforms. The main objectives of the research were to assess students' level of awareness, evaluate their perception of data protection, and investigate their real-world data privacy behaviors.A descriptive research design was adopted, and data were gathered using structured questionnaires administered to 400 students randomly selected across different faculties. The study applied quantitative methods for data analysis using SPSS to derive meaningful insights.The findings revealed that while students exhibited basic awareness of data privacy issues such as password security and phishing, there was a significant gap between their knowledge and actual practices. Many participants acknowledged the importance of protecting personal data but still engaged in behaviors that posed risks, including sharing passwords and ignoring privacy settings.The study concludes that awareness alone is not sufficient to promote responsible digital behavior. Therefore, the study recommends integrating digital privacy education into the university curriculum, organizing regular sensitization workshops, and empowering students through hands-on training to ensure the development of effective and sustainable privacy practice