Digital Security and Land Protection Method in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examines digital security and land protection methods at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Land encroachment and urban expansion pose significant challenges to the protection of institutional land assets. Despite the growing relevance of digital technologies in land governance, existing protection measures remain largely reactive and insufficient for addressing technologically sophisticated and spatially dispersed threats. This study addresses this gap by examining the effectiveness of digital security and land protection methods at OAU. Guided by systems theory and socio-technical systems perspectives, the study conceptualises land protection as an interconnected system involving digital infrastructure, governance structures, human capacity, and environmental factors. The study evaluates existing digital security measures, identifies institutional and technological constraints, and proposes strategies for improving land protection through integrated digital governance. A qualitative research design was employed. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with 20 purposively and stratified selected stakeholders from the ICT Unit, Physical Planning Unit, Legal Unit, and Security Department. The data were analysed using content analysis. Findings reveal that digital security technologies at OAU are underdeveloped, poorly integrated, and inadequately aligned with land governance processes. GIS applications are mainly used for internal planning, surveillance is concentrated within core campus areas, and digital land records lack adequate cybersecurity protection. Institutional fragmentation, weak collaboration, and limited technical capacity further reduce effectiveness. The study proposes an integrated digital land management framework and concludes that effective land protection requires alignment among technology, governance structures, and human actors.