Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo
Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos state are among dignitaries expected at the Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators 2021 Annual Conference and Investiture Award Ceremony holding at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria on November 18 and 19, 2021.
The theme of the conference is; Disruption and the New Normal in Arbitration/ADR in Africa: A Way Forward.
According to Mr Shola Oshodi-John, FCArb, the focus of the Conference is geared towards addressing the effects of COVID-19 pandemic unexpected disruption in the arbitration and business landscape in such a way that threatens the survival of the practice in societies that are not technologically advanced.
He said; “The disruption has created a new narrative and a new normal with the advent of online dispute resolution, digital economy, online trade in goods and services amongst others. At the inception of the pandemic, everyone had thought that it would soon fizzle away and that things would return to the old ways.
“That expectation has long been dropped for the more pragmatic approach of fashioning a way forward in order to adapt to the disruption and harness the benefits of the resultant changes.”
He said this year’s conference will be the first Hybrid Annual Conference held by NICArb to create a forum for users, experts and practitioners in Arbitration and other ADRs across sectors on the Africa continent and beyond, to discuss and proffer solutions in the wake of COVID-19 disruptions on how to improve the use and practice of Arbitration/ADRs to create an environment that attracts investment and investor confidence, and a roadmap for dispute resolution under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
Keynote Speakers are Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment; Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Nigeria; Professor Emmanuel Sibidi Darakoum, Permanent Secretary, Organisation for Harmonisation of Business Law in Africa (OHADA); Honourable Justice Rita Nosakhare Pemu, CJA, FCArb; Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lagos State; Dr Mrs. Lola Akande, Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, amongst others dignitaries.
At the end of the 2-day Conference, the Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators will also launch its Arbitration Centre and Arbitration Rules. This will be an opportunity to intensify its efforts at driving policy advocacy to the public in a bit to create awareness that the Institute is ready to its full capacity to host an Arbitration Proceeding.
The Investiture/Presidential dinner for the induction of new members will be held also, on the 2nd day of the Conference.
