The 0x41434F Code

A Living Framework for Law, Markets, and the Systems That Shape Us

DRAFT — Last updated on January 23, 2025

This document is a living framework. It’s a way for me to organize how I think about the forces that govern our lives: law, markets, and systems. It’s personal, but it’s also political. It’s grounded in what I’ve lived, what I’ve studied, and what I’ve built.

The title comes from hexadecimal, 0x41434F, which decodes to A C O, a shorthand for the values that quietly guide this entire project.

Accountability. Care. Opportunity.

Three principles I believe law and governance should center if we want a society that works for more people, in more places.

This document began as a reflection on leadership and policy. But it grew into something else. A blueprint for the world I want to help shape. One where freedom is protected not by luck or privilege, but by design.

It will change as I do. It will grow as the world does. That’s the point.

And it starts here.

I. Introduction

I grew up in a house where the news was as much a part of daily life as meals. My father was a general news junkie. His days revolved around newspapers, the radio, and the television, always staying informed about the political, economic, and legal developments shaping our country and the world. My mother, on the other hand, tuned into OSRC to watch Gani Fawehinmi challenge injustices and hold those in power accountable. Their habits shaped my worldview in ways I didn’t fully appreciate at the time. Watching my father immerse himself in the news and my mother marvel at Gani’s courage, I started to dream. I thought I’d become a lawyer, maybe even a political economist, and one day run for office as a Senator or a member of the House of Representatives. For me, the path seemed so clear: law, economics, and public service.

That dream took a turn, but it didn’t die. Instead, it evolved. Choosing to study abroad meant selecting a program that offered unique opportunities and wasn’t widely available elsewhere. Cybersecurity stood out as a relatively new and underexplored discipline, making it an intriguing choice.

Once I began my studies, I discovered a different academic landscape, one that encouraged exploration and interdisciplinary learning. Early on, I had the option to change my major, but taking an introductory class in digital systems and communications profoundly shaped my perspective. It sparked a love for engineering and systems thinking that I hadn’t anticipated. My program also allowed me to explore courses in areas like government, economics, and anthropology, tying together my technical interests with my passion for governance and public service. This approach, coupled with the flexibility to pursue law school from any academic background, reinforced my belief that no single path defines a meaningful career.

My path shifted toward computer science and cybersecurity. These fields provided me with an entirely new lens through which to view the world. They offered not just technical knowledge but also practical skills for analyzing systems, identifying flaws, and implementing solutions, whether by debugging a line of code or safeguarding sensitive data. What began as a pragmatic shift soon became something much deeper.

These fields challenged me to think critically about the connections between technology, governance, and society. I came to understand that systems, whether technical or societal, function best when they are structured thoughtfully, upheld with accountability, and designed with fairness in mind.

Today, I see technology as more than just a career path. It’s a way to understand and shape the systems that govern our lives. It’s a means to bridge the divide between innovation and accountability, between freedom and fairness, and between growth and sustainability. This belief is at the core of everything I strive to achieve and is what ultimately inspired me to write this living document, The 0x41434F Code. This document is a manifesto, a roadmap, and a call to action.

II. My Foundational Beliefs

1. Law Shapes Society

The Land Use Act in Nigeria is a prime example of how laws can stifle societal and economic development. By centralizing land ownership under the government, the act restricts individual property rights, hindering investments and economic progress. In the U.S., zoning laws achieve similar outcomes in more subtle ways, perpetuating housing inequities and economic segregation.

This dual perspective, shaped by my experiences in two different countries, underscores my belief that laws condition everything. They determine where we live, what opportunities we have, and how we access shelter, education, healthcare, and justice. Whether it involves repealing restrictive laws in Nigeria or reforming zoning policies in the U.S., the principle remains the same: law is the cornerstone of equity and progress.

2. Markets Must Be Fair

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act and the U.S. Federal Reserve Act highlight how laws govern economic stability and market fairness. In Nigeria, unpredictable monetary policies often leave small businesses vulnerable. In the U.S., monopolistic practices widen the gap between the rich and everyone else.

Markets are powerful engines for innovation and growth, but they only work when they are fair. Competition thrives when rules are enforced evenly, whether through antitrust measures or policies that support financial inclusion. Without fair markets, opportunities diminish, innovation slows, and inequality expands.

3. Governance Requires Balance

Living in two democracies taught me the importance of checks and balances. In Nigeria, the Petroleum Act concentrates control over national resources in the executive, often sidestepping legislative oversight. In the U.S., power is more distributed, but political gridlock can still paralyze decision-making.

Governance, to me, is about finding balance between efficiency and accountability. It means giving legislators the tools to fix systemic issues, ensuring transparency in executive actions, and applying laws consistently in the courts. Governance is not only about rules, it is about relationships and responsibility.

4. Technology Is Transformative

Working in tech opened my eyes to how deeply technology influences governance, economics, and society. It enables progress but also introduces new threats: cyberattacks, surveillance, algorithmic bias, and inequality in access.

Global privacy laws are often proposed as a solution to data misuse, but I believe we need a broader approach. The governance of artificial intelligence, the ethical handling of data, and international efforts to fight cybercrime are equally important. Technology is not inherently good or bad. Its impact depends on how we choose to govern it.

5. Freedom and Responsibility Coexist

I believe freedom works best when it is shared with responsibility. This is the foundation of my take on libertarianism. Laws that provide education, healthcare, or worker protections are not a threat to freedom. They are what make it possible.

Whether we are talking about progressive taxation, safety regulations, or public infrastructure, these interventions exist to ensure that individual liberty is balanced with collective opportunity. True freedom includes the ability to thrive, not just to survive.

III. Why Law Touches Everything

Law is the invisible framework that shapes nearly everything we see. It defines where we live, what we can build, who we can marry, and how we do business. It decides whether a child has access to a good education, whether a small business can access credit, and whether an activist has the right to speak freely in public. For something that most people rarely think about, it carries an incredible weight in every aspect of life.

Growing up between Nigeria and the U.S., I became aware of law not as a set of abstract rules, but as a force that creates very real outcomes. In Nigeria, the Land Use Act centralized land ownership under the government, which meant that most people couldn't claim title to the land beneath their feet. That law alone has slowed investments, blocked generational wealth, and limited access to housing. In the U.S., zoning laws function differently but produce similar results. By restricting what can be built and where, these laws have locked communities into cycles of segregation and limited upward mobility. In both cases, law shaped the landscape not just physically, but economically and socially.

But law is not only a tool for control. It can also be a mechanism for justice and transformation. When the United States abolished slavery, it did so through legal change. When segregation was struck down in schools, it was the courts that made it happen. These shifts didn’t solve every problem, but they set new standards. They gave people language, leverage, and hope.

Still, the law is not neutral. It has been used to both oppress and liberate. It upheld slavery before it abolished it. It validated segregation before it tore it down. And even now, the same legal systems that protect rights for some can deny them to others. That tension is what makes law so powerful and so dangerous. It reflects who holds influence, who is protected, and whose voices are heard.

The same patterns play out in the economy. Law determines who can own property, how contracts are enforced, and what protections exist for consumers and workers. Entrepreneurs cannot build without trust, and trust requires rules. Investors won’t put money into places where the rules change overnight. Workers won’t feel safe in jobs where they can be exploited without consequence. Law provides that backbone. It creates the predictability that markets need to function and grow.

At the same time, legal systems regulate competition. Antitrust policies prevent monopolies from swallowing entire sectors. Consumer protection laws ensure people are not tricked, trapped, or harmed. Financial regulations, though often politicized, help prevent the kind of collapse that affects entire generations. These are not just technical policies. They are expressions of how much we value fairness over dominance, transparency over secrecy, and safety over speculation.

Law also governs the relationships between citizens and the state. It defines what a government can do, what it cannot, and what it must be held accountable for. Constitutions set the boundaries. Administrative law ensures agencies follow rules. Legal checks on power prevent abuses, or at least aim to. And when those checks are missing, when laws are hollow or ignored, we often see instability, corruption, and the erosion of public trust.

Governance systems don’t emerge in a vacuum. Tribal councils, monarchies, representative democracies are all shaped by legal traditions and shifts in power. As societies grow more complex, so do their laws. What was once enforced through custom and kinship becomes a matter of statute and procedure. This evolution isn't linear, and it's not always fair. But it does show that law evolves alongside people. It can expand to include more voices or shrink to serve the few. It can become more just or more controlling. And we get to decide which direction it takes.

When I worked on my first cybersecurity project, I realized that the real vulnerability wasn’t just technical. It was legal. The policy around incident reporting was so outdated that even well-meaning companies had no idea what was required. There was no standard timeline and no shared definition of what counted as a breach. That confusion left everyone exposed. At the same time, security researchers who discovered flaws were often treated like criminals. Companies would threaten legal action instead of thanking them, even when the researchers acted in good faith. Responsible disclosure was risky, not because of the bugs, but because of the law. Platforms like HackerOne eventually helped normalize bug bounty programs, giving researchers a safer way to report issues and encouraging companies to receive vulnerability reports without hostility. Years later, when the SEC introduced rules requiring public companies to disclose material cyber incidents within four business days, it felt like the law was finally catching up with the risk. But the space between harm and regulation is exactly where so many vulnerabilities continue to live.

Even now, law is being asked to keep up with new challenges. Climate change is forcing governments to rethink everything from property rights to international cooperation. Technology is reshaping the workplace, the economy, and even the concept of identity. The rise of artificial intelligence has opened up questions that legal systems have not caught up with. Who is liable when a machine makes a harmful decision? What rights do we have over our data, our likeness, our digital selves?

I believe law must be adaptive, not in the sense of always reacting, but in the sense of learning. It should make room for complexity, uncertainty, and change. It should be built not just to preserve order, but to promote justice, equity, and opportunity.

When I look at the world today, I don’t just see politics or policy. I see legal systems either working or failing. I see the fingerprints of laws written decades ago still shaping outcomes in ways we don’t always recognize. And I see a future where the law could be one of our most powerful tools. Not to freeze the world in place, but to help reshape it with care, courage, and vision.

IV. Proposals Rooted in Belief

If law shapes everything, then changing the world means changing how we write, interpret, and enforce it. Ideas matter, but implementation is everything. These proposals are not about ideology. They are grounded in what I’ve lived, what I’ve studied, and what I believe about how systems can serve people better.

This is not an exhaustive list. I will continue updating it as I learn more, reflect more, and engage with new challenges.

Strengthen the Legislative Branch

Most governance failures are not because problems are unsolvable, but because institutions are underpowered or misaligned. I believe legislative bodies should be strengthened, not sidelined. That means increasing transparency around how laws are written and passed, improving civic education, and ensuring stronger oversight of executive agencies and regulatory influence in the private sector.

Countries like Finland have made civic education a lifelong priority, which helps people see laws not just as rules to follow, but as systems they can shape. That kind of democratic muscle matters.

Build Fairer Markets Through Policy

Markets only work when rules are fair. I support stronger antitrust enforcement, especially in sectors like tech and finance, where unchecked consolidation limits innovation. Consumer protection should be proactive, not reactive. Agencies should prevent harm before it spreads.

The goal is not to punish scale, but to make sure it is earned. That means closing loopholes that encourage regulatory avoidance, breaking up monopolies when necessary, and funding the institutions that keep markets competitive.

Align Technology With Ethics and Access

Technology moves fast. Law moves slowly. Bridging that gap is one of the defining policy challenges of our time. I believe we need strong privacy protections, transparent governance for algorithms and biometric data, and accountability in how AI systems are deployed.

But beyond regulation, there is access. Connectivity, digital literacy, and basic infrastructure remain out of reach for millions. Closing that divide is not just a social good; it is a foundation for economic resilience. Projects like India’s Digital India initiative provide early examples of how this can be done at scale.

Responsible disclosure frameworks, clear incident reporting laws, and bug bounty platforms like HackerOne also show that safety and openness can coexist. Encouraging that kind of collaboration is key to preventing harm before it happens.

Universal Access to Education and Skills

Education is the cornerstone of a free and fair society. I support universal access to quality education, from early childhood through adulthood. That includes public school funding, vocational training, and continuous upskilling as industries evolve.

A society that limits access to learning limits its own future. And one that invests in curiosity, critical thinking, and adaptability will always find a way forward.

Rethink Poverty as Multidimensional

Poverty is not just a matter of income. It is about options, safety, access, and dignity. I believe we need to move beyond one-dimensional metrics and address the structural barriers that keep people stuck.

That includes zoning reforms to support affordable housing, access to public healthcare through innovative partnerships, and financial inclusion through community lending models. Programs like Bangladesh’s microfinance movement have already shown what is possible when financial tools reach the underserved.

Climate and Economic Sustainability Together

I do not believe economic growth and climate goals are at odds. We can build green economies that create jobs, reduce emissions, and preserve ecosystems all at once. That means investing in clean energy, supporting sustainable agriculture, and rewarding companies that think in decades, not quarters.

The European Union’s Green Deal is one example of what long-term alignment can look like. We need more public and private cooperation to turn sustainability into a shared standard.

Strengthen AI Governance and Scientific Oversight

Artificial intelligence has become too powerful, too fast, to govern passively. I believe governments should build in-house scientific expertise to test and evaluate advanced AI systems. This includes assessing how they might be misused, how secure they really are, and how they influence human autonomy.

Policy decisions should not be made in the dark. Governments need the tools and people to understand AI systems before harm occurs, not just after. That means investing in:

Pre-deployment testing for cyber, biological, and societal risks
Evaluations of model autonomy, manipulation, and influence over humans
Collaboration between researchers, governments, and companies
Global policy alignment to prevent fragmented and unsafe governance
Open-source tools that enable transparent and repeatable AI evaluations

Some organizations like Anthropic have already started publishing their test frameworks and findings. Governments should follow suit, support this work, and help scale it across borders. AI will shape every industry, every economy, and every institution. The people responsible for public safety need to understand it well enough to guide its future responsibly.

Humility, Feedback, and Learning

No proposal is perfect. All systems have unintended consequences. That is why I believe in testing ideas with pilot programs, measuring real-world results, and adjusting based on what works.

The problems we face are complex. Our policies should reflect that complexity, not with paralysis, but with humility and readiness to learn.

This list will grow. The world is changing, and so will the questions we need to ask. But my core belief remains the same: law, shaped with care, can create a better future. And we all have a role to play in shaping it.

Areas I Hope to Explore Further

There are other areas I am thinking through and may expand on as this document evolves:

Digital Sovereignty: Local control over data infrastructure, cloud services, and critical internet infrastructure.
Public Procurement Reform: Simplifying and opening up the government procurement process so that startups and nonprofits can compete and serve the public sector more easily.
Whistleblower Protection: Strengthening legal protections for individuals who expose institutional misconduct or systemic failures.
Voting Infrastructure: Investing in secure, auditable, and accessible voting systems that preserve both integrity and public trust.

This framework is a beginning. It will grow as I learn, engage, and continue building. And I hope it inspires others to think just as boldly about what governance, markets, and law can become.

V. Where the Framework Is Taking Me

This started as a reflection on leadership, specifically Lina Khan’s tenure at the FTC and how her vision aligns with the values I hold. But as I kept writing, it became something larger. It turned into a blueprint for how I see governance, law, and markets intersecting in everyday life. A way to organize thoughts I’ve carried for years.

Writing this helped me realize something that feels obvious now, but took time to articulate: law is not just a technical system. It is a human system. It is the quiet architecture behind our choices, our constraints, and our opportunities. It is what determines who owns what, who gets heard, and who is protected when things go wrong.

When law works well, we barely notice it. We feel safe, we feel free, we feel able to move forward. When it fails, everything else begins to fracture. Markets become predatory. Innovation becomes dangerous. Democracy becomes fragile. That is why this matters to me, not just because I want to build within systems, but because I hope to help shape them. I want to live in a world where the rules make sense and where the people writing them understand the stakes. This document is not about ideology. It is not about partisanship. It is about making space for fairness, accountability, and responsibility in systems that touch every part of our lives.

I believe in innovation. I believe in entrepreneurship. I believe in freedom. But I also believe in grounding all of it in something that lasts. That something, more often than not, is law.

If I’ve learned anything from exploring cybersecurity, from studying economic development, from following antitrust policy, or even from building startups, it is this: law shapes everything. And if we want a future that works better for more people, in more places, then we have to care about how that shaping happens.

This framework will grow. It is not finished, because the world is not finished. One direction it has already pointed me toward is computational law, a field focused on translating legal concepts into logic-based systems for automation and accessibility. It brings together my interests in privacy, security, governance, and engineering in a way I didn’t expect, but now can’t unsee. I’ve started writing about that journey separately, including the books, tools, and projects shaping how I think about law in code.

That is why I wrote this. That is why I’ll keep updating it. And that is why, despite all its imperfections, I still believe in the law.