Chair, International Chambers of Commerce Nigeria (ICCN) Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Commission, Dorothy Udeme Ufot, SAN, has maintained that arbitration remains the preferred mechanism for resolving commercial disputes globally due to its finality, neutrality and party autonomy.

Ufot stated this at a press briefing ahead of the 10th ICC Africa conference scheduled to be held in Lagos from June 3 to 5, 2026, with the theme “A Decade of Excellence: Shaping the Future of International Arbitration and ADRs in Africa.”

She said arbitration had become the dispute resolution model of choice for businesses and investors because parties willingly agreed to its processes and outcomes.

According to her, arbitration can never go wrong once parties voluntarily consent to resolve disputes outside the traditional court system.

“Arbitration is by agreement. Once you sign that agreement, you must follow it to the last word. If you go to court, the court will return you to arbitration because that is the agreement you signed,” she said.

Ufot explained that, unlike litigation, where cases could proceed from the High Court to the Court of Appeal and eventually the Supreme Court, arbitration awards were final and binding, except where an arbitrator was proven to have committed wrongdoing.

She noted that Nigerian courts had in recent years become more supportive of arbitration after sustained training and engagements with judges, adding that excessive judicial interference previously discouraged investors and international arbitration institutions from choosing Nigeria as a venue for dispute resolution.

The SAN said arbitration also had strong economic benefits for host countries, noting that international conferences and arbitration proceedings generated income for hotels, transport operators, catering businesses and other sectors of the economy.

She disclosed that over 30 countries had registered for the forthcoming conference in Lagos, which she described as a reflection of growing confidence in Nigeria’s arbitration industry and intellectual capacity.

According to her, the conference would examine Africa’s progress in global dispute resolution since the first African conference on international arbitration held in Lagos in 2016.

The Secretary-General of ICCN, Mrs Olubunmi Osuntuyi, described the upcoming conference as crucial to Nigeria, Africa and the wider global economy, noting that the country had remained a major hub for arbitration professionals on the continent.

According to her, the conference would feature chief justices, attorneys-general and arbitration practitioners from different parts of the world, adding that participation extends beyond Africa.

Osuntuyi disclosed that the President of the ICC International Court of Arbitration, Claudia Salomon, would lead a delegation from the ICC headquarters to the conference.

She listed countries expected at the event to include Malawi, the United Kingdom, Ghana, Mali, Ethiopia, Angola, Cameroon, France, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt, Portugal, Senegal, Mauritius among others.
Osuntuyi added that the ICC’s mission remained ensuring that business works for everyone, everyday, everywhere, through effective dispute resolution mechanisms that support seamless cross-border trade and investment.

Co-Chair, 10th ICC Africa conference, Mrs Jean Chiazor Anishere (SAN) disclosed that an advanced training session organised by the ICC Institute of World Business Law in collaboration with the ICC Paris headquarters would take place.
According to her, the training, is designed for practitioners interested in international arbitration and arbitrators seeking to deepen their expertise in drafting enforceable arbitral awards.

She explained that the programme would focus on the technicalities of international arbitration, stressing that arbitral awards must be properly drafted to ensure enforceability across jurisdictions.

Anishere described the session as both a compulsory learning opportunity for aspiring international arbitration practitioners and a refresher course for arbitrators who are not actively engaged in international arbitration practice.

She further revealed that the conference would also feature a fireside chat with the President of the ICC International Court of Arbitration, Claudia Salomon, on “Pioneering Excellence: Leadership, Legacy and the Road Ahead.”

According to her, the session would spotlight distinguished personalities in commerce whose leadership contributions have shaped business and dispute resolution globally.