AKINWALE ABOLUWADE
Stakeholders in international commercial arbitration have described devotion to impartiality, integrity, as well as mentoring of new crop of professionals as means to sustaining the legitimacy of arbitration practice in the country.
The group made the observation recently at the International Arbitration Conference organised by the Committee on International Commercial Arbitration and ADR of the International Law Association, ILA Nigeria, themed, ‘Recent trends and opportunities in International Commercial Arbitration,’ held in Lagos.
In her opening address, titled, ‘Recent trends and opportunities in International Commercial Arbitration,’ Adedoyin Rhodes-Vivour, SAN, pioneer Chairperson of the Committee, made reference to the progress made in international commercial arbitration.
Rhodes-Vivour listed a wide range of gaps that should be addressed for Nigeria and other African countries to become recognised in the field of arbitration, saying, “These will include dismantling barriers such as undue delays in the arbitration process, financial hurdles, as well as technology and infrastructure challenges that limit virtual hearings.”
The highpoint of the conference was the swearing in of the new executives of the Arbitration Committee under the leadership of Tolulope Aderemi, senior partner with Perchstone and Graeys LP as Chairman.
The new executive committee members include Ofonime Enoh as Vice Chairperson, Foluke Akinmoladun as Secretary, Deinma Dibi as Programmes Officer, Mobolaji Oriola as Treasurer and Shola Soyele as Media and Publicity Officer.
Aderemi lauded the initiatives of the Adedoyin Rhodes-Vivour leadership, making reference to her sense of service and dedication to the development of the ILA.
Aderemi said, “With this assignment, we will advance the course for improved administration of justice and advocacy for change. With the continuing growth of electronic commerce, increase in low volume high value claims, our focus will be to train lawyers to unlearn skills antithetical to the interest of parties and the overall practice or arbitration. It is time to work with businesses and move from dispute resolution to conflict avoidance/management.”
The ILA, founded in Brussels in 1873 with its headquarters in London, being currently chaired by Prof. Christine Chinkin, has no fewer than 4,500 members in 45 branches globally.
The Nigerian Branch of the ILA, led by it President, Prof. Fidelis Oditah, (SAN), organises lectures, seminars, conferences, and other capacity development programmes periodically to advance the course of international law in Nigeria.
More than 200 participants graced the occasion both physically and virtually with dignitaries and leading arbitrators, including the presidents of ILA Nigeria, Prof. Fidelis Oditah (SAN); the Mauritius Branch of the ILA, Steven Sengayen; and the Director General of the Nigerian Law School, Isa Hayatu Chiroma (SAN); Tunde Busari, (SAN); Nadia Ameh and Ignacio Dais amongst others delivering goodwill messages.
