FEATURED SHORT COURSE

The Legal Foundations of Digital Technology

A four-week, case-based, academically grounded, and career-focused programme designed to introduce participants to technology law, digital regulation, artificial intelligence governance, privacy, cybersecurity, fintech compliance, and the evolving legal architecture of the digital economy.

Programme Overview

The Legal Foundations of Digital Technology provides structured exposure to the legal frameworks governing digital technologies in Africa and globally. It equips participants with a practical understanding of the rules, institutions, risks, and compliance obligations that shape modern technology products and digital businesses.

Through live sessions, case discussions, guided assignments, and practical legal analysis, participants will learn how law interacts with digital platforms, artificial intelligence, privacy, cybersecurity, and fintech regulation while also gaining insight into career pathways in technology law and digital policy.

Course Details

Certificate in The Legal Foundations of Digital Technology

Duration: 4 Weeks

Dates: 25 April – 17 May

Standard Fee: ₦50,000 / $35

Early Bird: ₦30,000 / $15

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Who This Course Is For

Law students seeking structured entry into technology law and digital regulation.

Early-career lawyers transitioning into tech-facing legal roles.

Entrepreneurs and technology law enthusiasts.

In-house counsel and compliance professionals working with digital products and AI systems.

Other legal practitioners seeking knowledge in AI and digital regulation.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

Understand the fundamental concepts shaping tech law in Africa and globally.
Interpret core digital regulations applicable to technology products.
Identify privacy, cybersecurity, fintech, and online platform compliance risks.
Explain how AI technologies intersect with law and existing governance structures.
Analyse real-world legal issues arising from digital platforms.
Draft basic compliance notices, privacy summaries, and issue-spotting reports.
Navigate pathways to careers in tech law, legal technology, and digital policy work.

Weekly Programme Breakdown

Week 1 — Foundations of Technology Law and the Digital Economy

Framing Question: How does law govern the digital economy, and what are the foundational instruments every technology lawyer must know?

What This Week Covers

The scope and structure of technology law as a legal discipline — what it includes, what it excludes, and why it matters.
How digital regulation works: jurisdiction, enforcement, and the role of regulatory authorities.
Key regulatory instruments with regional focus on the EU and Africa.
The relationship between law, technology policy, and digital governance.
How legal teams are structured inside technology companies — product counsel, DPO, compliance, and policy roles.

Live Case Discussion: A digital platform operating across multiple African jurisdictions — mapping applicable laws, regulatory bodies, and enforcement exposure.

Week 2 — Responsible Information Governance

Framing Question: When personal data is collected, stored, shared, or exposed within digital platforms, who is responsible for protecting it — and what does the law require?

What This Week Covers

Foundations of data protection and privacy and the applicable legal frameworks across Africa and the EU, with focus on Nigeria where relevant.
Data subject rights.
Responsible information governance: data minimisation, retention rules, privacy by design, and internal controls.
Data breach and incident response requirements: notification duties, regulatory timelines, and legal exposure.
Regional data protection landscape including NDPA, GDPR, and the AU Data Policy Framework.
Cross-border data transfers and related contractual fundamentals.

Live Case Discussion: A digital services platform suffers a major data breach involving user information and simultaneously receives several data subject requests. Students map legal obligations, reporting timelines, and potential liabilities.

Week 3 — The Legal Framework for Artificial Intelligence

Framing Question: How is artificial intelligence regulated, and what legal obligations and risks does it create for developers, deployers, and users?

What This Week Covers

What AI regulation is and why it is distinct from general technology law.
The EU AI Act: risk-based classification, prohibited systems, high-risk AI obligations, and enforcement.
Algorithmic transparency, explainability, and accountability in law.
AI and intellectual property: ownership of AI-generated outputs, training data licensing, and copyright liability.
Africa's emerging AI governance landscape — Nigeria's AI policy direction, AU frameworks, and current gaps.
Liability for AI-caused harm: who is responsible when an AI system causes damage?

Live Case Discussion: An AI hiring tool deployed by a Nigerian company — assessing transparency obligations, discrimination liability, IP ownership of outputs, and applicable regulatory frameworks.

Week 4 — Risk Assessment and Regulatory Compliance: The Roles of a Technology Lawyer

Framing Question: How do lawyers assess risks and ensure compliance within technology industries, and how do they build expertise and credibility in technology law?

What This Week Covers

How to analyse digital regulatory frameworks: identifying compliance obligations, spotting regulatory gaps, and assessing legal risk.
Understanding fintech compliance: KYC/AML obligations, consumer protection rules, digital lending regulation, data handling requirements, and platform accountability.
Career pathways in technology law: fintech regulatory counsel, digital policy analyst, compliance associate, product counsel, privacy officer, and startup advisory roles.
Building a strong technology law portfolio: research papers, compliance assessments, policy commentary, case analyses, and strategic online positioning.

Live Case Discussion: A fintech startup operating across Nigeria and the EU plans to launch a new digital payments feature but faces overlapping compliance requirements from financial, consumer, and privacy regulators.

Instructor

Ibrahim Haroon is the co founder and also an instructor at Harib Tech Law Academy, contributing to learning on technology law, digital regulation, and the wider digital economy.

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Accreditation & CPD

This programme is accredited by the Nigerian Bar Association Institute of Continuing Legal Education (NBAICLE). Participants who successfully complete the course requirements will be awarded the corresponding Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points in line with NBAICLE guidelines.

Certification Requirements

Attendance threshold met
All assignments submitted
Capstone memo completed
Participation in final module (career session)

Ready to join this course?

Enroll now to secure your place in The Legal Foundations of Digital Technology and begin your structured entry into technology law, digital regulation, and AI governance.

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