The Senator representing Ogun Central and Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, Shuaib Salisu, has said the National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill will be ready for President Bola Tinubu’s assent before the end of 2025.
Salisu said signing the bill into law would trigger a transformative shift in Nigeria’s digital landscape and create massive job opportunities for young people.
The senator stated this on Thursday at the 6th Ogun Digital Summit held at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, with the theme, “Building a Digital Economy for Sustainable Growth.”
He explained that the bill had undergone extensive legislative work, including retreats and public hearings, adding that the final draft would be presented to the Senate for third reading next week.
According to him, the legislation will compel all government ministries and agencies to fully embrace digital operations, thereby expanding job opportunities for young Nigerians with digital skills.
“Just imagine the number of jobs and opportunities that will be created when this bill becomes law. For those of you who have acquired digital skills, you can use those skills to digitise any government agency you choose”, he said.
Salisu added that the bill would curb corruption, enhance data exchange between government agencies, and prepare Nigeria for artificial intelligence–driven governance.
He said the legislation would also grant electronic documents and digital signatures the same legal status as physical ones, modernising Nigeria’s legal and administrative frameworks.
The senator urged participants to seize opportunities within the digital economy, noting that Nigeria is home to seven out of Africa’s 10 unicorns.
“If you think Nigeria’s glass is half full, you have an opportunity to tap into the full benefits of this digital summit,” he said.
Salisu also presented a laptop to Mr Imisioluwa Adeniyi, winner of a quick current-affairs quiz, describing it as a gesture of support for young digital talent.
Speaking earlier, the Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to building a technology-driven and investor-friendly economy.
She noted that the annual summit had become the state’s largest platform for conversations on the future of work and technology, adding that it had trained more than 6,000 young people since its inception.
The deputy governor highlighted the transformation of the Ogun Tech Hub into a centre for coding, design, and mentorship, as well as the establishment of the Window on America learning space, which provides global-standard digital training.
She also referenced the newly established NCC Digital Centre, where young people were now being trained in artificial intelligence engineering, generative AI development, and cloud technologies.
“For a centre like this to be located in Ogun State is not accidental. It reflects confidence in our talent base and our long-term digital vision,” she said.
Salako-Oyedele called for stronger collaboration among innovation hubs, universities, private labs, training centres, and government agencies, warning that fragmentation weakens the impact of the state’s growing tech ecosystem.
The summit’s convener, Mr Victor Adeleye, stressed the need to strengthen Ogun State’s tech ecosystem to prevent startups from migrating to Lagos.
He said the summit had supported over 7,500 young talents since 2020, many of whom had gone on to build revenue-generating solutions.
This year’s event attracted participants across the technology value chain, including beginners, software developers, students, entrepreneurs, researchers, and government officials.
Other dignitaries in attendance included the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Adijat Adeleye; Hon. Afolabi Moruf Afuape, representing Abeokuta South Federal Constituency; and entrepreneur, Dr Bola Akindele, among others.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, Nigeria’s digital economy is experiencing substantial growth, contributing nearly 18% to the nation’s GDP and fostering a vibrant tech ecosystem with high-growth startups and fintech unicorns.
However, it faces challenges like infrastructure gaps, a significant digital divide, and rising cyber threats, which the government is addressing through policy, new legislation, and skill development programs.
The digital economy reportedly contributed nearly 18% to Nigeria’s GDP in 2024 and is projected to reach 21% by 2030, according to the National Bureau of Statistics and the Minister of Communications.
More than 163 million Nigerians have internet access, with broadband penetration reaching 43.5% as of March 2024, fueled by mobile networks and affordable data plans.
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