By Lukman Olabiyi
In a bold move to reshape how disputes are managed in Nigeria, the newly established Institute of Alternative Dispute Resolution Development and Conflict Management of Nigeria (i-ADRNigeria) has set its sights on reviving and integrating Africa’s traditional dispute resolution systems. This initiative aims to offer a more accessible and culturally relevant alternative to the overburdened formal court system, which is often mired in delays and inefficiency.
The institute inaugurated recently is designed to tackle a broad spectrum of disputes ranging from commercial and corporate conflicts to community-based issues. Its uniqueness lies in its commitment to incorporating traditional African dispute resolution practices into its curriculum, training programmes and overall approach to conflict management.
Prof. Akin Ibidapo-Obe, the President and Chairman of the Council of i-ADRNigeria, speaking during the inauguration of the institute, emphasized the need to revisit and resuscitate Africa’s traditional dispute resolution methods.
He held that African societies have long relied on informal, community-based systems for resolving conflicts.
“These traditional institutions, which often include elders, chiefs, and community leaders, have proven effective over centuries and deserve a place in modern conflict management.
“African societies invented informal dispute resolution through its in-built traditional institutions, these traditional methodologies need to be revisited and resuscitated to broaden the scope of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) today.
“i-ADRNigeria’s comprehensive approach combines these traditional methods with modern ADR techniques, creating a platform that not only focuses on resolving disputes but also emphasizes education and capacity building in conflict management,” Prof. Ibidapo-Obe explained.
Speaking on the institute’s agenda, Mrs Chinyere Onuorah, the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of i-ADRNigeria, said the institute is set to offer extensive training in customary arbitration, with an emphasis on developing the skills needed to mediate and arbitrate disputes in a culturally competent and effective manner.
And also to bring together a diverse group of experts, including serving and retired justices, traditional rulers, and law professors, who are committed to imparting their knowledge to a new generation of ADR professionals.
She shared the institute’s vision of fostering a country where both conventional and traditional ADR mechanisms are accessible and effective.
Onuorah noted that through strategic partnerships and a focus on human capacity development, i-ADRNigeria aims to play a pivotal role in Nigeria’s business expansion and economic transformation.
“We envision a nation where ADR mechanisms, both conventional and rooted in customary ADRs, are accessible and effective. Our mission is to build human capacity, promote research, and create a platform for ADR practice that meets global standards,” Onuorah said.
In a poignant address, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu, the Chief Judge of Ogun State, underscored the growing strain on Nigeria’s formal court system.
She stated: “With backlogs of cases stretching years into the future, including some scheduled for hearing at the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court five to eight years from now, the formal justice system is increasingly unable to keep pace with the volume of disputes.”
Dipeolu, who was represented at the event by Justice Tajudeen Okunsokan, stressed that ADR methods are not just desirable but necessary for addressing contemporary conflicts.
She called for the development of communication skills, mediation capacity, and creative problem-solving techniques among ADR practitioners, qualities that i-ADRNigeria aims to cultivate.
“The formal justice system can no longer cope with the caseload, it is imperative to embrace alternate dispute resolution methods that are not only effective but also timely,” Justice Dipeolu remarked.
At the event, Mr. Olatunde Busari, senior advocate of Nigeria and chairman of the occasion, urged the council members to uphold the highest standards of integrity, especially those who may be appointed as arbitrators.
He stressed that the credibility of the institute and the ADR profession as a whole rests on the honesty and transparency of its members.
“It is only by speaking the truth that the users of arbitration will continue to refer their disputes to i-ADR. The way forward for the institute is collaboration, collaborating with established ADR bodies and ensuring that the certification of i-ADR comes to symbolize talent, quality, and global standards,” Busari said.
In the same vein, Prof. Hakeem Olaniyan, a lecturer at the University of Lagos, argued that ADR offers a superior alternative to the courts for resolving civil disputes. “There is no civil dispute that cannot be better and less rancorously settled through ADR than through the courts,” he said, emphasizing the need for ADR to be seen as the preferred mechanism for resolving conflicts.
As the i-ADRNigeria prepares to become a leading force in Nigeria’s ADR landscape, it stands at the intersection of tradition and modernity. By integrating Africa’s rich legal heritage with contemporary dispute resolution practices, the institute is poised to redefine how conflicts are managed in the country, offering a more efficient, accessible, and culturally relevant alternative to the formal justice system.
In the coming years, i-ADRNigeria’s emphasis on training, research, and effective dispute resolution could well pave the way for a more harmonious and economically stable society, where conflict is managed swiftly, fairly, and in a way that reflects the country’s diverse traditions and modern needs.