UK Cybersecurity Founder Launches First Online Safety Education Workshop for UK College Students

Nigerian-born cybercrime expert, digital safety educator, and advocate, Valeen Oseh-Ovarah, has successfully delivered her first online safety workshop in the United Kingdom, marking a significant milestone in her international efforts to combat online scams and promote responsible cyber hygiene among vulnerable groups.

[PHOTO Description : Valeen Oseh-Ovarah engaging with students during the Springboard College digital safety workshop]

The workshop, hosted at Springboard College, part of North Hertfordshire College, on November 30, 2023, focused on key digital safety topics such as phishing, digital footprints, cyberstalking, grooming, cyberbullying, online scams, and responsible online behaviour. Through hands-on simulations and interactive discussions, students were taught to critically assess online risks and protect themselves and their communities.

“This was not just another lecture,” said Oseh-Ovarah. “We used real-life scenarios to help students build digital instincts, not just gain knowledge. They walked away with tools to make safer, more informed choices online.”

With over a decade of experience working with young people in Nigeria and the United States, Oseh-Ovarah emphasises that digital safety education must go beyond technical knowledge to include empathy, trust-building, participation, and active listening.

“Young people have to feel seen and heard before they fully engage,” she explained. “Letting them lead at the start of each session created an environment where learning felt empowering, not intimidating.”
A highlight of the day was the official UK launch of the Online Safety Pledge for Students, an initiative adapted from her popular Never Give Up Pledge, which she has delivered in schools and community programmes across Nigeria. The UK Online Safety Pledge encourages students to commit to responsible digital actions, not only for themselves, but for their families and wider communities.

“The enthusiasm was overwhelming,” she said. “Watching these students make public declarations to stay safe online, help others, and think critically about what they share, it was powerful. That’s how you build a culture of digital responsibility.”

Despite a technical glitch at the start of the workshop, a projector issue that forced Oseh-Ovarah to deliver the first ten minutes without slides, the session continued with impact. Teachers praised the workshop as “timely and transformative,” while students responded with enthusiasm to its practical and participatory approach.

Oseh-Ovarah spent the entire day at Springboard College, delivering three separate sessions for different student groups. Each session was tailored to meet the students where they were, blending real-life scenarios with interactive exercises that kept learners engaged and reflective.

“Valeen delivered one of the most impactful sessions we’ve ever hosted on digital safety,” said Amy Parkin, a staff member at Springboard College. “Her ability to connect with students, keep them engaged, translate complex topics into relatable conversations for young people, and deliver such a relevant message was genuinely impressive. The students were fully engaged from start to finish.”

In fact, the college management immediately invited Oseh-Ovarah back for a second session, reflecting the value placed on the initiative
The workshop is the first in a series planned across the UK. Oseh-Ovarah, who previously delivered similar training across schools and rural communities in Nigeria, intends to expand the initiative to reach colleges, universities, care homes, community centres, and parent–teacher associations throughout the UK.

“This isn’t just about preventing scams,” she explained. “It’s about empowering a generation to make safer, smarter decisions online — and giving communities the language and tools to talk about digital risks.”

Her startup, TisOva, is a UK-based cybersecurity company focused on scam prevention, particularly among students and other digitally vulnerable groups. Though headquartered in London, the company’s mission is global, grounded in Oseh-Ovarah’s experience across Nigeria, the United States, and now the United Kingdom.

She is calling on Nigerian institutions, churches, and diaspora organisations with international branches to support bringing these workshops to their local communities.

“As a Nigerian, I’m proud to be contributing to global online safety efforts,” she said. “But I also know that this work is urgently needed within our own communities — among students, parents, teachers, and elders. Everyone deserves to be digitally safe.”

Oseh-Ovarah is open to partnering with schools, universities, community organisations, care homes, and family support groups in the UK and beyond. She also plans to implement an expanded version of the programme in Nigeria, blending education, policy, and technology to strengthen digital safety infrastructure across both continents.