The Corporate and In-House Counsel Committee of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Nigeria Branch, has held two high-level stakeholder dialogues in Abuja and Lagos, bringing together in-house counsel, legal practitioners, arbitrators, business executives, policymakers and judicial stakeholders to examine how businesses can better manage risks, prevent disputes and achieve commercially sustainable outcomes.
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2026-IDRI-Masterclass.png")
The engagements were held on October 13 and 14, 2026, in Abuja and Lagos respectively, under the leadership of Dr Adenike Esan, PhD, FCIArb, Chair of the Corporate and In-House Counsel Committee, with the support of Mrs Olusola Adegbonmire, C.Arb, Chair of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Nigeria Branch.
The dialogues focused on strengthening the role of corporate and in-house counsel in arbitration and alternative dispute resolution, while promoting practical approaches to dispute prevention and resolution that align with business objectives.
The Abuja session, themed “Arbitration That Works: Making Arbitration Work – From User Expectations to Commercial Outcomes,” examined how arbitration can better meet the expectations of commercial users and support Nigeria’s ambition to become a preferred arbitral seat.
The opening fireside conversation featured Mrs Adesua Dozie, General Counsel and Company Secretary of NNPC Limited, and was moderated by Mrs Oyinlola Adebayo, FCIArb, FCIS, Company Secretary of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria.
Discussions focused on the expectations of corporate users, the need to align dispute resolution processes with business objectives and the importance of ensuring that arbitration delivers efficiency, predictability and commercial value.
A strategic panel on “Positioning Nigeria as a Preferred Seat: Judicial Support, Institutional Rigour and Enforcement Dynamics” was moderated by Ms Chinenye Onyemaizu, Managing Partner of Lex Luminar.
View this post on Instagram
Panelists included Justice Olasumbo Goodluck of the Court of Appeal; Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, SAN, CON, Chairman of the Nigeria Chambers of Commerce Dispute Resolution Centre; Mr Terlumun George-Maria Tyendezwa, Director of Legal Services at the Ministry of Petroleum Resources; Ms Hadeezah Abdulrasheed, Group Head, Legal Advisory and Documentation at Jaiz Bank Plc; and Mrs Maimuna Lami Gogo Shiru, Director of Civil Litigation and Public Law at the Federal Ministry of Justice.
An interactive session on “Making Arbitration Work: From User Expectations to Commercial Outcomes” was facilitated by Mrs Perenami Momodu, FCIArb, International Arbitration Consultant and Head of Africa Practice at Gateley Plc, alongside Mr Oladapo Ademola, Partner at Advocaat Law Practice.
Participants stressed that arbitration should not be judged merely by legal victory, but by whether it preserves business relationships, creates certainty, manages costs and supports commercial objectives.
They also identified judicial support, effective enforcement, strong institutions and sound policy implementation as essential to improving confidence in Nigeria’s arbitration system.
The Abuja dialogue also featured contributions from Mrs Rosemary Obiageli Nwosu, FCIArb, Chair of the CIArb Nigeria Abuja Chapter, and Dr Chikwendu Madumere, C.Arb, CIArb Africa Trustee.
The Lagos Strategic Dialogue, held in partnership with Stren & Blan Partners, focused on “The Business of Risk: Managing Legal Risk, Preventing Disputes and Delivering Value.”
The session examined how organisations can identify and manage legal and commercial risks before they develop into disputes.
Mr Rotimi Odusola, FCIOD, Corporate Relations and Legal Director at Guinness Nigeria Plc, led the opening conversation on “The Future of Business Risk: Opportunities, Challenges and the Evolving Role of In-House Counsel.”
He highlighted the need for modern in-house counsel to move beyond traditional legal advisory functions and become strategic partners in business decision-making, innovation and value creation.
A panel moderated by Mrs Iretioluwa Banjo, Head of Legal, Corporate Affairs and Company Secretary at Superflux International Limited, examined “Inside Major Projects: Investment, Risk and Dispute Lessons from Infrastructure, Construction and Real Estate.”
Panelists included Mr Amala Umeike, Founding Partner of Stren & Blan Partners; Mr Emmanuel Dike, Construction Law Expert and Principal Partner at Jasmine Advocates; Mr Bolaji Olojo, Deputy Managing Director of IGPES Group; Mrs Omonigho Brown, Head of Contract Management at Julius Berger Nigeria Plc; and Mrs Abiola Tella, Group General Counsel and Head of Legal at Churchgate Group.
The interactive session titled “The Arbitration Before the Arbitration: Getting It Right from Day One” was facilitated by Mr Tochukwu Amaefule, FCIArb, Senior Associate at Stren & Blan Partners, and Mrs Chinwe Odigboegwu, FCIArb, Executive Head, Legal and Regulatory Affairs at ATC Nigeria.
Participants examined risk allocation, contract management, investment decisions, project governance and early dispute prevention strategies.
They stressed that legal teams should be involved from the conception of major projects through implementation, while organisations should deliberately identify and allocate risks and adopt dispute resolution mechanisms capable of preserving commercial relationships.
Across both dialogues, participants agreed that effective dispute resolution begins long before a dispute arises.
They also emphasised that in-house counsel should increasingly function as strategic business partners and risk advisers rather than solely as compliance professionals.
The discussions further highlighted early risk identification, proper project structuring, stakeholder engagement, strong arbitration institutions, judicial support and efficient enforcement mechanisms as critical to strengthening Nigeria’s dispute resolution ecosystem.
In her closing remarks, Dr Esan thanked the speakers, moderators, facilitators, participants and strategic partners who contributed to the success of both engagements.
She gave special recognition to Mr Umeike and Stren & Blan Partners for supporting the Lagos dialogue as Strategic Partner and Exclusive Sponsor, describing the partnership as reflecting a shared commitment to advancing conversations around business, risk management and arbitration.
Umeike, in response, reaffirmed the firm’s commitment to supporting the initiative and expressed its willingness to continue partnering with the committee in future editions.
Mrs Adegbonmire also commended the dialogues for advancing practical conversations around arbitration, dispute prevention and commercial dispute resolution in Nigeria.
The two engagements form part of the committee’s broader efforts to strengthen collaboration between corporate and in-house counsel and the wider arbitration community, while promoting commercially focused approaches to risk management, dispute avoidance and dispute resolution.
[A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials
Available now for NGN 40,000 at ASC Publications, 10, Boyle Street, Onikan, Lagos. Beside High Court, TBS. Email publications@ayindesanni.com or WhatsApp +2347056667384. Purchase Link: https://paystack.com/buy/evidence-act-complete-annotation
______________________________________________________________________ “Enhance Legal Practice With Authoritative Reports” — Alexander Payne Offers Comprehensive Law Reports, Spanning Over A Century Of Nigerian Jurisprudence
Interested buyers are encouraged to place their orders and enquiries via:
0704 444 4777, 0704 444 4999, 0818 199 9888
Website: www.alexandernigeria.com
