Stakeholders in Africa's dispute resolution sector want the continent to claim a bigger role in global arbitration. They're pushing hard for Nigeria to become the go-to place for settling international business disputes.
The push came during the 10th ICC Africa Conference on International Arbitration in Lagos last week. Attorney-General Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) sent a strong message through intermediaries about the government's intentions.
Former NBA President Yakubu Maikyau (SAN) represented Fagbemi at the event. Maikyau said the government wants to overhaul Nigeria's legal framework to attract more international arbitration cases.
According to Maikyau, every recommendation from the conference will get serious attention. His office plans to turn those ideas into actual policies, he assured participants.
"The Attorney-General is committed to using his office to ensure conference resolutions are implemented," Maikyau told the gathering. He spelled out an ambitious goal: making Nigeria Africa's premier arbitration hub and a destination for disputes involving parties from Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
To achieve this, the Federal Government has set up a special committee. The panel will review Nigeria's arbitration policy and check how well the Arbitration and Mediation Act is working.
Maikyau chairs the committee himself. Its job is to spot weak areas and suggest reforms that'll make Nigeria more appealing to foreign investors seeking arbitration services.
ICC Africa Chair Dorothy Ufot (SAN) marked the conference's 10th anniversary as a watershed moment. She said the platform has strengthened Africa's voice in global dispute resolution circles.
The conference has brought legal experts, business leaders, and government officials together, Ufot noted. This collaboration has helped push arbitration development across the continent forward.
She called the milestone edition a chance to celebrate past wins and plan ahead. The future of African arbitration depends on staying innovative and globally competitive, Ufot stressed.
Ufot praised the ICC International Court of Arbitration for its reputation. She urged stronger ties between governments, arbitral bodies, and private companies to boost Africa's say in international arbitration.
NBA President Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN) acknowledged Africa's gains in legal training and dispute resolution. But the continent must take on greater responsibility, he insisted, to shape what comes next.
