Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators, set to hold 2018 Annual Conference

In continuation of her mandate to facilitate and promote the administration and development of Arbitration and other ADR practices in Nigeria, Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators will hold her 2018 Annual Conference, at

> the Lagos Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Speaking about the event, the Registrar/CEO of the Institute, Shola Oshodi-John, MCIArb, stated that the Conference specially designed to provide an opportunity for business owners, legal practitioners and other professionals, to discuss the current mode of enforcing arbitral awards, and its impact on the economy of West Africa. More specifically, the conference will serve as a platform for positioning West Africa, as a preferred seat for arbitration proceedings, and also ameliorating the drawbacks associated with delay in enforcement of arbitral awards.

The Conference will hold under the distinguished Chairmanship of Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, OFR, CON, FNIALS, FCIArb, President and Chairman of Council, on Wednesday and Thursday, October 24 - 25, 2018.

On the theme of this year’s Conference, “Enforcement of Arbitral Awards and Economic Growth in West Africa”, Shola Oshodi-John said that the recent judicial decisions on arbitration related proceedings and awards, presents a very disturbing trend that is unfavourable, and producing a negative impact on the economic viability and growth of West Africa’s Economy. This trend, places Arbitration and other ADR mechanisms, on a balance as most awards become the subject of litigation in courts. Parties and practitioners, are largely disadvantaged by this development and as such, the need for charting a path to address these challenges.

This year’s Annual Conference will have session discussions, to address some of the key issues on the subject, and proffer useful recommendations in improving and sustaining the growth of West Africa’s economy.

In her bid to deliver an intellectually stimulating arbitration discourse, the Institute has drawn up experts from the Academia, Judiciary, including those from the Public and Private Sectors to serve as Speakers/Discussants.

Speakers will give insights on the ‘Incidents of Setting Aside Arbitral Awards and its Implications’, ‘Enforcement of Arbitral Awards: Challenges and Prospects’, and the ‘Role and Impact of ICT in Arbitration and Enforcement of Awards’.

The Keynote address for the Conference will be delivered by His Excellency, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, FCIArb, Honourable Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, and Mr. Paul Usoro, SAN, FCIArb, President, Nigerian Bar Association.

The Conference will examine the theme, through panel sessions. The first panel session, will discuss the ‘Incidents of Setting Aside Arbitral Awards and its Implications’; the second session, will discuss ‘Enforcement of Arbitral Awards: Challenges and Prospects’; and the third session, will be centred on ‘The Role and Impact of ICT in Arbitration and Enforcement of Awards’.

Discussants for the various sessions are: Hon. Justice Binta Nyako, Judge, Federal High Court, Abuja, Dr. Paul Ananaba, SAN, Principal Partner, Paul Ananaba (SAN) & Co. Mr. Yomi Kale, Statistician General, National Bureau of Statistics, Mr. Michael Otu, FCIArb, Legal Adviser, Zenith Bank Plc., Hon. Justice Ambibola Obaseki, FCIArb, Justice of the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, Mr. Adebayo Adenipekun, SAN, FCArb, Member, Permanent Court of Arbitration, The Hague, Mr. Abimbola Ogunbanjo, OON, President, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mr. Lucky Nengite, General Counsel/ Executive Director, Chevron Nigeria Limited, Mr. Olufemi Adeagbo, Chief Executive Officer, Comnavig ICT Consultants, Dr. Segun Aina, OFR, FCIArb, Chairman, Fintech Associates, and Mr. Bright Chinyundu, Chief Executive Officer, Broad Pay, Zambia.

The Conference is an annual initiative of the Nigerian Institute for Chartered Arbitrators, a registered mark of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Nigeria Limited by Guarantee, a registered (Not-for-profit: No 115730) organisation, committed to the facilitation and promotion of development of Arbitration and other ADR mechanisms best practices, in Nigeria.