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*”Kenya’s Chief Justice, Afreximbank President To Address NICArb’s 2024 Conference
The Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators (NICArb) is gearing up to celebrate its 45th anniversary with the 2024 Annual Conference bringing together experts to address the transformation of arbitration and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) practices across Africa.
The conference themed “Transformation and Interventions: The Evolving Trends in Arbitration and ADR Practice in Africa”, is scheduled for November 28th and 29th at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The two-day hybrid event will bring together arbitration and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) experts to discuss critical developments shaping the field across Africa. It will include expert-led discussions, workshops, and networking sessions designed to inspire innovative approaches to arbitration and ADR.
Participants will delve into the transformative trends and explore opportunities to position Africa as a leader in global arbitration practices.
The Chief Justice of Kenya, Lady Justice Martha Koome is expected to speak at the conference while President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Export–Import Bank (Afreximbank) Dr. Benedict Oramah will give the keynote address.
Speaking at a press conference, NICArb’s Registrar and Chief Executive Officer CEO, Mrs. Shola Oshodi-John, highlighted the critical role of arbitration and ADR in fostering economic growth and improving the ease of doing business.
She said: “Arbitration and other ADR mechanisms are already being used in many commercial disputes, contributing significantly to the GDP of countries like Singapore, Hong Kong, and France. We aim to replicate these successes in Nigeria and Africa at large”.
The conference, she said, is a platform to explore how Nigeria can position itself as a leading hub for international arbitration in Africa, particularly for disputes involving African entities.
“The spotlight has been on African countries and how governments and public-sector entities handle investor trade disputes. Recent arbitral decisions have shown the need to pay greater attention to the drafting of investment contracts and defending arbitral proceedings,” she noted.
The discussions will also cover the implications of the Protocol on Investment under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), adopted in February 2023, which reflects a unified African approach to investment governance.
According to her: “This protocol portends a major shift in the dynamics of investor-state disputes and exciting prospects for dispute resolution in intra-African trade relations. The conference will interrogate the issues surrounding African integration and the dispute resolution needs that must be met to promote transformation and growth on the African continent.”
Mrs. Oshodi-John further emphasized the transformative role of technology and artificial intelligence in arbitration.
“With the rise of technology and increasingly widespread internet penetration on the continent, more Africans are leveraging technology for business and social interactions. This is reshaping the nature of business disputes and how they are resolved. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a new trend that has come to stay, and it portends transformative changes for the practice of arbitration and other ADR mechanisms,” she stated.
Another critical issue to be explored is the intersection of business operations and human rights. Reflecting on the United Nations’ Business and Human Rights Agenda, she noted that businesses must consider environmental, social, and governance issues when formulating their strategies.
“When business operations, objectives, and human rights clash, arbitration and ADR will best serve the disputes resulting therein.”
As the 2024 conference approaches, Mrs. Oshodi-John called on stakeholders to seize the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions. “This conference presents a unique opportunity for arbitration and other ADR stakeholders on the African continent to foster collaboration across borders, leveraging Africa’s rich cultural diversity to propel arbitration and ADR to new heights,” she said.
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