Shettima highlights government’s drive for digital governance reform

Nigeria is on the verge of a major digital transformation, with the government advancing toward the passage of the National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill into law, Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima has said.

This disclosure was made in a statement on Sunday following the recent 2025 edition of the Digital Nigeria International Conference and Exhibition, themed “Innovation for a Sustainable Digital Future: Accelerating Growth, Inclusion, and Global Competitiveness.”

Senator Shettima described the bill as a cornerstone of the nation’s ambition to build a $1tn economy powered by digital innovation.

He emphasised that the legislation represents more than regulatory reform, calling it “a strategic leap toward embedding technology into the fabric of governance, economic planning and national development.”

Drawing a parallel with Nigeria’s cashless policy, which catalysed the fintech revolution, the vice president said the bill is expected to ignite a govtech revolution, ushering in smarter governance, greater transparency and inclusive service delivery.

He highlighted complementary initiatives, including the integration of digital literacy into school curricula, digitisation of the informal sector and the 3 Million Technical Talent Programme, aimed at developing world-class expertise and positioning Nigeria as a hub for digital skills.

Addressing the youth directly, Senator Shettima called them the “lifewire of our nation”, urging them to embrace roles as innovators and disruptors in shaping the country’s digital future.

On infrastructure, he noted ongoing projects such as the Broadband Superhighway, which aims to deliver high-speed Internet nationwide, and initiatives under the Bridge and 7-7-4 programmes, designed to ensure equitable digital access across Nigeria.

He also praised the country’s emergence as a leading fintech ecosystem and underscored that the new bill would strengthen key institutions such as the National Information Technology Development Agency, Nigerian Communications Commission and Nigerian Data Protection Commission, ensuring a secure and innovative digital ecosystem.

The conference was attended by notable stakeholders including Dr Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy; Kashifu Inua Abdullahi, DG of NITDA; Dr Aminu Wada, Executive Vice Chairman of NCC; Dr Vincent Olatunji, CEO of NDPC; and Professor Abdullahi Yusuf Ribadu, Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, among others.

Senator Shettima concluded by urging participants to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s digital transformation, affirming the administration’s commitment to ensuring that digital innovation drives opportunity, inclusion and prosperity for all Nigerians.