MASTERS IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY LAW (MITL)

 

1. PREAMBLE

 

This is an initiative of the Department of Public Law, Faculty of Law, Bayero University, Kano to mount a new Professional Masters Programme in Information Technology Law (MITL). It is an adventure into the legal analysis of the interaction between the law and digital technology. The Programme is open to holders of first, Masters and PhD degrees in Law and/or in other Disciplines from Bayero University, Kano or any other recognized University. The aim of the Programme is to provide the societal needs of manpower capable of addressing legal challenges posed by the emerging and ever evolving dynamics of Information and Communication Technology (ICT or IT).

 

1. INTRODUCTION

 

Following the departmentalization of postgraduate studies in the Faculty of Law, the Department of Public Law mounted a Masters Programme in Public Law- LL. M (Public Law) which commenced in 2017/2018 session. The general aim of the Programme is to graduate students with a specialized Masters Degree in Public Law. Part of the course contents for the LL.M (Public Law) Programme contained two optional courses on IT Law. Namely: Information and Communications Technology Law and Cybercrime Law. The aim of these newly introduced course is to avail interested students an opportunity to explore knowledge in the emerging legal aspects of ICT thereby exposing them to interface between the law and digital technologies.

 

The growing interest of students and the general public at large in the above mentioned optional courses made it imperative for the Department to introduce yet another specialized academic Masters Programme in Information and Communications Technology Law- LL. M (ICT Law) for law degree graduates only with a Call to Bar Certificate (BL). The Programme was consequently approved by the University Senate in 2018 and first set of students for the Programme were admitted during 2018/2019 admission exercise. Since then there has been growing interest among lawyers and even non-lawyers to pursue the newly introduced LLM (ICT Law) Programme. Hence, the Department was left with no other option than to initiate a proposal for yet another Masters Programme but this time around a professional one to be known as Masters in Information Technology Law (MITL). The proposal was presented and extensively deliberated upon by the Departmental Postgraduate Studies Committee on the 14th day of December, 2022. The Committee, consequently, resolved that the proposal be presented at the next available Faculty PG Board meeting for further deliberations and necessary action.  If approved by the University Senate through Academic Development Committee (ADC), the new Programme shall commence in the forthcoming session (2021/2022).

 

It was strongly believed the new Programme will avail law and non-law graduates the opportunity to acquire the basics of IT Law and research. Indeed, it was equally believed that with the emerging sophistication in Information Technology vis-à-vis the inter play of the law, students stand to benefit a lot from the Programme as it will broaden their horizon in matters of law, communication and information technology. This is considered apt since IT has permeated into various disciplines and professions such as engineering, medicine, communication, journalism, and the law to mention but a few. It was also believed that the Programme is capable of meeting up with the current digital and societal needs of manpower in both private and public sectors of this country and beyond.

 

1. PHILOSOPHY AND SCOPE

 

The law is inevitably needed to harness the development of modern ICT. The increasing importance and sophistry of ICT and the impact of digital technology on every facet of life mandate the continuous evolution and application of new legal rules. This is necessary in order to ensure adequate protection of the society in such a way that everyone can surf the Internet freely without any fear of fraud or exploitation. The challenges brought about by online transactions, cybercrime and online data and privacy breaches, including the revolutionizing roles of digital technology render it imperative for the law to clearly address the interface with digital technology. The Programme will facilitate a proactive approach towards understanding not only the relevant and applicable legal rules in the areas of e-commerce, e-banking, e-government, electronic evidence, cyber security and crimes, etc, but will also provide a critical approach towards understanding a new set of legal rules vis-à-vis the development of science and technology, economy, international relations, crime prevention and control, identity theft and data protection among others. The IT law knowledge, skills and expertise are necessary for efficient functioning of our society in today’s digital and ever increasing automated human and non-human virtual intercourse.

 

4.0 OBJECTIVES

 

The objectives of the Programme are to:

1. Expose students to specific areas of IT Law;
2. Train highly qualified and skilled manpower that is capable of addressing present and emerging issues in the operations of and the interface between the law and digital technology;
3. Offer specialized approach to and specialization on issues of global contemporary significance;
4. Train a pool of qualitative manpower that can competently and confidently operate in the emerging national and global digital legal environments;
5. Serve as additional qualification for law graduates and those from other disciplines especially graduates of social sciences, as well as graduates from medicine, mass communication, Arts, Engineering, and other fields of humanities who will be afforded a golden chance to enroll and explore studies in the field of law relating to IT. The Programme will also serve as training ground for staff of public, private and even international organizations such as personnel of banking sector, media houses, entertainment industry, NCC, EFCC, ICPC, and NITDA among others.
6. Serve as a Consultancy Platform for capacity-building, research and development with bias in IT law.

 

 

5.0 ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

 

In addition to the general admission requirements in paragraphs 2.4, 2.5 and 2.6, more particularly, paragraphs 2.5.1, 2.5.2 and 2.6.2(b) of the 2016 Bayero University General Regulations Governing Postgraduate Studies, an applicant seeking for admission into the Masters in Information Technology Law (MITL) Degree Programme must hold:

1. a minimum of second class lower degree from Bayero University, Kano or any other recognized university;
2. a Postgraduate Diploma or certificate in addition to a first-degree certificate from Bayero University, Kano or any other recognized university with a minimum of third class (minimum CGPA of 2.00 on the scale of 0.00-5.00);
3. a Postgraduate Diploma not below classification of merit from Bayero University, Kano or any other recognized university provided that the conditions prescribed for admission into Postgraduate Diploma Program at Bayero University Kano are satisfied, namely: Must have obtained a Bachelor of Law (LL.B) degree with at least a third class honors degree, (minimum CGPA of 2.00 on the scale of 0.00-5.00), or in the fields of Arts, Engineering, Sciences and Humanities from Bayero University, Kano or any other recognized university with at least a second class honors degree (minimum CGPA of 2.75 on the scale of 0.00-5.00);
4. a Masters or Ph.D Degree from Bayero University, Kano or any other recognized university; or
5. any other relevant qualification acceptable by the Department of Public Law and the Bayero University Postgraduate School in accordance with the Bayero University, Kano Postgraduate Regulations and Guidelines.

 

Notwithstanding the above requirements, the Department of Public Law may require applicants for the Programme to undergo a prescribed test in relation to the proposed research work to be undertaken before admission.

 

 

7.0 DURATION OF THE PROGRAMME

 

The Programme shall be for a minimum of two and maximum of four semesters.  Provided that the Senate may, in exceptional circumstances, on the recommendation of the Departmental Postgraduate Studies Committee, through the Board of the School of Postgraduate Studies, extend a student's duration of studies for a further period. A candidate whose application for extension or suspension of studies is approved shall have his/her maximum period of studies computed less than the period approved for the extension or request for suspension of studies.

 

8.0 TUITION FEES

 

As may be determined by the University.

 

 

 

9.0 CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

 

Graduates of MITL have career opportunities in the Civil Service, Banking and Commercial Sectors, Industrial and telecommunication Service Sectors, Media and Entertainment Industries, Law Enforcement Agencies and Private Law Firms, Non-Governmental Organizations, as well as Community-based Organizations.  

 

1.  REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION AND ELIGIBILITY TO SIT FOR EXAMINATIONS

 

1. A registered student for this Programme shall be required to register and pass 30 credit unit of prescribed taught courses including 6 unit from project.

2.  A student shall be required to complete at least 24 credit unit, consisting of compulsory and elective courses listed below, and also to submit a project, which must be an original research work of a student.

a) The compulsory courses for all students are:

1. 1. Project;
   2. Research Methods;
   3. Principles and Practice of IT Law (PPIL);
   4. Fundamentals of Information Technology; and
   5. Data Communication and Computer Networks
2. In addition to 2 (a) (i-iv) above, Basic Foundation of Law and Administration of Justice in Nigeria is also a compulsory course but for non-law graduate students only.

 

Note that to be eligible to sit for examination in a particular course, a student must record at least 75% attendance from lectures, seminars and tutorials delivered for the course.

 

 

1.  LIST OF COURSES

 

For emphasis, a student must register at least 30 credit unit of the prescribed taught courses, which consist of 18 or 21 credit unit of compulsory courses including Project and 12 or 9 credit unit of elective courses.  9 or 12 credit unit of the compulsory courses are to be registered in the first semester, while the remaining nine (9) credit unit is to be registered in the second semester.

 

First Semester Courses

Second Semester Courses