Chapter 9 takes note of the important role of elite formation during colonialism in defining elite spaces, particularly in Nigeria. These elite spaces are important for understanding patterns of governance and the persistence of poverty. Although this is of critical importance because so many are poor in Africa, discussions about poverty may not take sufficient note of elite attitudes and behaviors that shape policies that may contribute to or alleviate poverty. Elite formation during colonialism has been important in shaping attitudes about governance and conceptions of internal responsibility of those who govern to those over whom they rule.

Chapter 6 discusses how past paths play a role in present-day questions related to the digital economy. This chapter examines how past legal and other institutions have influenced the diffusion of digital economy technologies and the tension between such technologies and existing institutions. This is an issue of global concern. African countries, however, have significant issues related to colonial legal and institutional overhang that cast a shadow over digital economy laws and policies.

Chapter 10 focuses on issues related to colonialism and commerce, examining how activities of colonizers have shaped opportunities, business institutions, and competitiveness throughout Africa. This chapter also discusses the implications of colonial portfolio approaches for law and commerce, as well as how attitudes about governance have shaped the construction of the public and private throughout former colonies in Africa.

Chapter 11, the Conclusion, begins with analysis of a viral video of a young boy performing ballet in the mud in Lagos, viewed by tens of millions of people in the summer of 2020. This video highlights potential dreams and hopes involving future paths, with potential that may not be realized, given the paucity of available opportunities. Potential future paths in the digital technology era resulting from past and present paths are then discussed.

Chapter 4 analyzes the operation of colonial legal structures and looks at implications of parallel customary and English law frameworks put in place in contexts of legal imperialism in British colonies. This chapter also explores structures of government, separation of powers, and the construction of legislative, judicial, and executive branches during colonialism. The colonial executive power was largely unconstrained, which has contributed to structural problems in the organization and operation of postcolonial governmental structures that carried over from colonialism to a significant degree. The implications of these structures for postcolonial rule in Nigeria are also examined.

Chapter 5 considers issues related to colonialism, language, and law. Colonial policies have had a sustained impact in the language arena. Language policies also play a critical role in law. Language choices initially made during colonialism continue to shape questions of access, justice, and fairness in legal and other contexts in African countries.

Chapter 3 focuses on relationships and accountability and looks at the role of colonial rule in contributing to continuing state fragility in Africa today. This chapter also considers colonialism from the perspective of internal and external relationships. The implications of colonial governance and legal structures for accountability and recourse in instances of harm are also discussed.

Chapter 8 considers implications of digital technology trends for issues related to insecurity and precarity. Rural and urban spaces are discussed in the context of digital technology trends. The chapter concludes with a discussion of implications of protest movements, such as #EndSARS in Nigeria, that illustrate ways in which digital technologies create digital communities and have an impact in contested spaces that exist around societal fissures, including intergenerational and other forms of conflict.

Chapter 7 examines digital technology issues in Nigerian contexts. Specific focus is on current competing narratives about Nigerian start-ups that exist side-by-side with older narratives about scams involving Nigerian Princes that are probably perceived by many to involve the best-known Nigerian digital economy exports. This chapter also discusses how conceptions about technology uplift exist side-by-side with profound sources of insecurity from a range of sources for people in many African countries.

This chapter examines questions of governance in colonial contexts, noting important similarities between colonial governance and governance approaches in corporations.

Chapter 2 examines questions of governance in colonial contexts. It considers how conceptions about governance of corporations bear similarities to approaches to colonial governance by colonial powers. The thin European staffing that is typical during colonialism, emphasis on reducing costs and covering colonial costs with local taxes, and focus on extraction draw attention to ways in which colonial corporate governance reflected decision-making and investment choices more appropriate for short-term corporate decision-making than long term decisions about entire societies that might impact millions of people. The internal construction of colonial governance and the often- problematic bifurcation between English law and customary law in British colonial contexts is also explored.