NICArb re-elects president

The Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators has re-elected Professor Fabian Ajogwu as president and chairman of its governing council.

According to a statement from the institute, the re-election extends Ajogwu’s leadership into a second term and was officially announced during the institute’s 2024 annual general meeting, held recently in Lagos.

It noted that he was re-elected following an impactful first term characterised by enhanced capacity development for members and a greater membership drive.

He assumed leadership of the institute in 2021, following the retirement of the former president, Aare Afe Babalola, SAN.

The institute also approved the re-election of eight governing council members, namely Damian Dodo; Prof. Taiwo Osipitan; Jude Nnodum; Mike Igbokwe; Omoruyi Omonuwa; Mrs Priscilla Ogwemoh; Adebayo Adenipekun, who are all SANs, and Mrs Oshodi-John as registrar/chief executive officer.

Commenting on his re-election and appointments to the governing council of the institute, Ajogwu said, “I am deeply honoured to have the confidence of our members reaffirmed through this re-election. We will continue our work to strengthen the practice of arbitration in Nigeria through capacity development, advocacy and institutional reforms. The new council members bring a wealth of experience that will be invaluable in this regard.”

The president further maintained that the institute recorded a 23 per cent revenue growth in 2023, and the ADR Centre resolved disputes valued at N3.72bn and $105m.

According to Ajogwu, NICArb has also expanded its reach and deepened its roots across Nigeria by establishing the Abuja liaison office, creating a full-fledged branch in Kano State.

The NICArb president, a Lagos Business School Professor of Corporate Governance, has contributed to the governance and leadership of the institute.

He is an alumnus of the Said Business School of Oxford University and the Lagos Business School.

Ajogwu holds a doctorate in law from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland; an MBA from the IESE Business School, University of Navarra, Barcelona; and Law degrees from the University of Nigeria and the University of Lagos. He practices law at Kenna Partners.

NICArb is the premier arbitration institute in Nigeria, which was founded in 1979 under the leadership of the former Attorney General of Nigeria and former judge of the World Court at The Hague, Bola Ajibola.