A Professor of Cyber Security with Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Adebukola Onasoga, leading other stakeholders on Thursday, hailed the Federal Government over the Digital Economy and e-Governance Bill, saying that it is a strong platform that will help bolster and revolutionise digital transactions in the country. Onasoga, a council member of Nigeria Computer Society, however, said that to get the very best of the bill when passed, there is a need to include a clause in the bill which will compel each state government to create a Ministry of Digital Economy to drive the digital transformation and innovation as contained in the bill. The Professor of Cyber Security made this call during the stakeholders engagement organised by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, in collaboration with the National Assembly and National Information Technology Development Agency in Abeokuta. Onasoga said the bill is a welcome development as stakeholders and professionals have been waiting for a strong legislation to give them a say and a place in the promotion of the digital economy in the nation. Speaking with journalists at the event, the Computer scientist said, “The discussion we have had so far today demonstrated that people have been looking for an all inclusive platform like this bill. A bill like this will help to improve on digital services and further strengthen digital transactions in the country. “However, for proper domestication of this bill when it is eventually passed into law, there is a need for the bill to also compel the state to have the Ministry of digital economy. Like three or four states already have this ministry. “The scope of this bill, what it contains and stand to drive in the digital world is beyond what should be handled by a unit, department or a bureau, rather a full fledged ministry should be allowed to drive the digital transformation. “So, I am recommending that it should be part of this bill, that each state should have a Ministry of Digital Economy to drive this transformation. We are getting late already, we can’t waste further time again”. Similarly, the state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Abayomi Arigbabu, also lauded the move to provide strong legislative backing for the rapidly growing world of IT in the country Arigbabu said that if passed into law, the bill will help provide legal support and authenticate digital transactions which has posed a major threat to the growth of the digital economy in Nigeria. He said that the state government has recorded numerous achievements while deploying ICT tools to revolutionise the education sector, drive revenue generation amongst others hence, the total support for the proposed bill. The Special Adviser to the Governor on ICT, Dayo Abiodun, emphasised that e-governance, e-marketing, e- signing of documents have become practicable in advanced countries, saying that Nigeria was long overdue on the journey to embracing the digital transformation. Abiodun highlighted various benefits of the bill to include enhancing digital integration, promoting consumers protection and privacy, encouraging digital literacy and inclusions, fostering innovation and competitiveness to mention few. He assured stakeholders present at the event that their criticisms, observations and contributions would be taken into consideration in enriching the bill afterwards. 3MTT Community Manager for the state, Oluwaseun Dabiri, said that the objectives of the bill include enhancing digital integration, facilitating digital transformation in governance, fostering innovation and competitiveness among others. Post navigation Military pays last respect, burial holds today for Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja. Tinubu, Shettima arrive national cemetery for late COAS Lagbaja’s burial.