Dorothy Udeme Ufot, SAN, Chair of the International Chambers of Commerce Nigeria (ICCN) Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Commission, has affirmed that arbitration remains the preferred mechanism for resolving commercial disputes globally due to its finality, neutrality, and party autonomy.
Ufot made this statement during a press briefing ahead of the 10th ICC Africa conference, scheduled to take place in Lagos from June 3 to 5, 2026. The conference is themed “A Decade of Excellence: Shaping the Future of International Arbitration and ADRs in Africa.”
She highlighted that arbitration has become the dispute resolution model of choice for businesses and investors because parties willingly agree 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 can proceed from the High Court to the Court of Appeal and eventually the Supreme Court, arbitration awards are final and binding, except in cases where an arbitrator is proven to have committed wrongdoing.
She noted that Nigerian courts have in recent years become more supportive of arbitration following sustained training and engagements with judges. She added that excessive judicial interference previously discouraged investors and international arbitration institutions from choosing Nigeria as a venue for dispute resolution.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria also emphasized the strong economic benefits of arbitration for host countries, noting that international conferences and arbitration proceedings generate income for hotels, transport operators, catering businesses, and other sectors of the economy.
She disclosed that over 30 countries have 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 will examine Africa’s progress in global dispute resolution since the first African conference on international arbitration was 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 has remained a major hub for arbitration professionals on the continent.
