A total of 69 arbitrators bagged associateship status of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Nigeria Branch) at its Annual Membership Gala Nite/induction ceremony in Lagos.

16 others were elevated to the rank of member, while four moved to the highest level in the arbitration profession with the rank of Fellow of the Institute.

Welcoming members and guests to the event, the outgoing Chairman of the Institute and former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bayo Ojo SAN gave a brief history of the Institute and its modest strides in dispute resolution over the years.

He said the Institute was established in the United Kingdom in 1915 to provide a membership organisation for arbitrators and “To raise the status of Arbitration to the dignity and recognised position as one of the learned professions.”

The institute was said to have obtained a Royal Charter in 1979 and the status of Charity in 1990, and it is said to be the world’s leading centre of excellence for the promotion and facilitation of dispute resolution.
With its multi-professional approach, the institute is reputed to have over 12,000 members in 30 branches spread across 90 countries worldwide.

Nigeria was granted Branch status in 1998 and has been acknowledged as the most dynamic branch of the Institute and has grown from 50 members to over 1200 in ten years.

Ojo said that the Institute focuses on practical training and re-training of its members through the convergence of seasoned and experienced arbitrators and tutors.

He thanked members for turning out in spite of their busy schedules to welcome the International President, Joe Behan who paid a working visit to Nigeria in November.

Chief Ojo, who guns for the governorship seat of Kogi State in 2011, was recently elected as Trustee for Africa of the Institute.

With this development, he stepped down as Chairman of the Nigerian Brach, while another seasoned arbitrators, Mrs. Funke Adekoya, SAN, took over immediately as branch chair.

Nigeria’s former Federal Permanent Secretary and President of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, Chief Philip Asiodu,  was the Special Guest and Speaker at the gala nite.

Amongst the newly elevated fellows included Mr. Adebayo Adenipekun SAN and Mr. Chikwendu Madumere, while a gynaecologist, Dr. Aigbe Ohihoin was inducted as member.