Executive Certificate in AI Strategy, Leadership & Corporate Governance

AI Enablement
AI Engineering
AI Governance

Executive Certificate in AI Strategy, Leadership & Corporate Governance

Lead AI transformation — strategy, risk, and governance for senior leaders

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6 weeks
Duration
Hybrid
Format
Lagos, Nigeria
Location
Rolling 2025
Intake
Executive
Level
Yes
Certificate

What's included

Weekend Mentorship

Live cohort sessions with senior practitioners, every weekend.

Real-World Projects

Build a portfolio with hands-on industry case studies.

Community Access

Join a cohort of peers and the wider Firstlincoln alumni network.

Internship Pathway

Transition from learning into real industry experience through our internship program.

Weekend Mentorship Sessions

More than recorded videos — this is a live cohort.

Our Weekend Mentorship Sessions are live, instructor-led cohorts that run every weekend. Instead of watching pre-recorded lessons in isolation, you join a small group, work through real-world case studies, ask questions in real time, and get direct feedback from senior practitioners actively working in industry.

  • Live Q&A with senior practitioners every weekend
  • Real case-study breakdowns, not just slides
  • Cohort accountability and peer feedback
  • Career guidance, mock interviews and portfolio reviews
Sessions run Virtual or Physical — pick your format when you enrol.

What you'll learn

  • Evaluate AI opportunities and risks across your sector with a structured framework
  • Make informed build vs. buy decisions for AI systems and platforms
  • Oversee AI teams, commission AI projects, and interpret model outputs confidently
  • Design AI governance structures, ethics policies, and accountability frameworks
  • Navigate the Nigerian and global AI regulatory landscape (NDPA, EU AI Act, GDPR)
  • Manage reputational, financial, and operational risk from AI deployment failures
  • Develop and communicate a compelling AI transformation strategy to your board

Prerequisites

  • Minimum 8 years of professional experience in a leadership or senior management role
  • No technical background in AI or programming required
  • Laptop or tablet for reading materials and workshop exercises
  • Commitment to attend all 6 weekly sessions (2.5 hours each)
  • Openness to peer learning, cohort discussions, and board simulation exercises

Who is this programme for?

  • Chief Executive Officers, COOs, CFOs, and board members
  • Directors, VPs, and heads of department in technology-adopting organisations
  • Senior managers responsible for digital transformation initiatives
  • Government officials and regulators overseeing technology adoption
  • Investors and venture capitalists evaluating AI-driven businesses

Curriculum

4 modules • 20 lessons • 6 weeks

  1. MODULE 1 AI Strategy

    Weeks 1–2 · 5 lessons
    • AI landscape & business value
    • Identifying AI opportunities in your sector
    • Build vs buy decisions
    • AI investment & ROI frameworks
    • Competitive intelligence: AI benchmarking
    • Selecting AI vendors & platforms
    • Building cross-functional AI teams
    • Change management for AI adoption
    • Data strategy & readiness audit
    • Agile AI project oversight
    • AI risk taxonomy for boards
    • Regulatory landscape (NDPA, global AI laws)
    • Governance structures & AI committees
    • Ethical AI policy drafting
    • Crisis management: AI failures
    • AI board briefing simulation
    • Vendor negotiation workshop
    • AI governance policy sprint
    • Peer cohort roundtables
    • Personal AI leadership plan

Personalized Roadmap

Start your journey with a learning path customised to your motivation and experience

AI Strategy
1
AI Implementation
2
AI Risk & Governance
3
Executive Practicum
4

Assessment & Certification

Assessment
Participation (30%), Board Simulation (30%), AI Strategy Paper (40%)
Certification
Firstlincoln Executive Certificate in AI Strategy & Governance
Delivery format
Executive Cohort — Weekly evening sessions + 2-day weekend intensive

Career outcomes

Chief AI Officer
AI Strategy Lead
Board AI Advisor
Digital Transformation Director
AI Governance Chair
Internship Pathway

From classroom to a real industry role.

Top performers progress into our Internship Pathway — a structured placement programme of 3, 6 or 12 months. Internships are either sponsorship-backed or guardian-supported, depending on the arrangement that suits the learner.

3 months 6 months 12 months
Learn how the internship pathway works →

Get Expert Guidance

Need support? We've got your back — talk to a Firstlincoln advisor today.

+234 806 693 8330
10am – 7pm (Mon–Sat)
info@firstlincoln.net
You'll hear back in 24 hours.