On Thursday, Professor Adebukola Onasoga of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, along with other stakeholders, praised the Federal Government for the Digital Economy and e-Governance Bill. They highlighted its potential to bolster and revolutionize digital transactions in Nigeria.

Onasoga, a council member of the Nigeria Computer Society, emphasized the necessity of including a clause in the bill to mandate each state government to establish a Ministry of Digital Economy. This would drive digital transformation and innovation as outlined in the bill. He made this call during a stakeholders’ engagement organized by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, in collaboration with the National Assembly and the National Information Technology Development Agency in Abeokuta.

Speaking at the event, Onasoga described the bill as a welcome development, providing stakeholders and professionals with a significant platform to promote the digital economy in the nation. He noted the importance of proper domestication of the bill by compelling states to create ministries of digital economy to drive the transformation.

Similarly, Abayomi Arigbabu, the state Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, lauded the bill for its potential to provide legal support and authenticate digital transactions, which are critical for the growth of the digital economy in Nigeria. He highlighted the state’s achievements in deploying ICT tools to revolutionize the education sector and drive revenue generation.

Dayo Abiodun, Special Adviser to the Governor on ICT, stressed that Nigeria was overdue for embracing digital transformation, which has already become standard in advanced countries. He outlined the bill’s benefits, including enhancing digital integration, promoting consumer protection and privacy, encouraging digital literacy and inclusion, and fostering innovation and competitiveness.

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Oluwaseun Dabiri, 3MTT Community Manager for the state, reiterated the bill’s objectives, including facilitating digital transformation in governance and fostering innovation and competitiveness. He assured stakeholders that their feedback would be considered in enriching the bill.