ESQ Legal Practice Magazine JUNE 2014 EDITION | Page 24

ICAMA CHARTS
FUTURE FOR
ARBITRATION
IN AFRICA

F

oremost arbitration centre in

Africa, the International
Centre for Arbitration and
Mediation, Abuja (ICAMA)
recently collaborated with

the Ministry of Justice to chart the path
for growing practice of arbitration in
Africa. The two-day event in Abuja
provided an opportunity for the
stakeholders in attendance to celebrate
the successes of arbitration in Africa,
dissect the challenges facing it and
project its prospects as arbitration takes
firmer root in law practice in the
continent.
Given the growing popularity of
arbitration in Nigeria and the leading
role ICAMA has been playing, the
gathering was of who-is-who in the
legal circle in Nigeria, with their
24 I EsQ legal practice

Legal pundits have argued that there is the need for
stakeholders to articulate the advantages of arbitration in
resolving disputes and the imperative of making use of
arbitration centres in Nigeria and other African countries.
TONY AMOKEODO reports.
counterparts in other parts of the world
joining them to speak to a fitting theme
“Promoting Arbitration in Africa.”
ICAMA Chairman and Convener of the
roundtable, former Attorney General of
the Federation (AGF) and Minister of
Justice, Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN) while
welcoming participants to the first
biannual roundtable noted that, “The
dilemma facing arbitration in Africa is
that most disputes, even those involving
African states or parties, are arbitrated
in the major cities of the West. Most
contracts choose London, Paris or New
York as the venues for arbitration. Even

when domestic venues are chosen,
which is rarely, Western rules and
arbitrators are almost always chosen.
This does little to promote the African
cities as arbitral venues”.
The Attorney-General of the Federation
and Minister of Justice, Mohammed
Bello Adoke (SAN) in his admonition to
the gathering, urged the participants to
proffer workable solutions to the
myriad of challenges facing arbitration
in the continent, while pledging
government of Nigeria's deep
commitment and interventions when
and as required.

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