In a significant move to enhance arbitration and deepen trade relations between Nigeria and China, the Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators (NICArb) has signed a landmark cooperation agreement with the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC).
The agreement was finalized during the China-Africa International Arbitration Cooperation Conference and the China-Africa Trade Export Forum, held from June 13 to 15 in Changsha, Hunan Province, China.
NICArb President and Chairman, Professor Fabian Ajogwu, OFR, SAN, was represented at the event by the Institute’s Registrar and CEO, Mrs. Shola Oshodi-John, FCArb. She delivered a keynote address and participated in a panel discussion alongside CIETAC’s Vice Chairman and Secretary General, Mr. Wang Chengjie.
Speaking at the conference, Mrs. Oshodi-John described the partnership as a milestone in arbitration diplomacy, emphasizing its role in modernizing Nigeria’s dispute resolution mechanisms.
“This agreement marks a new chapter in our efforts to strengthen arbitration and mediation frameworks in Nigeria,” she stated. “It enables us to collaborate with CIETAC to promote arbitration and mediation as the preferred mechanisms for resolving international trade and investment disputes.”
The partnership is expected to boost investor confidence, streamline dispute resolution for cross-border trade, and contribute to a more efficient legal environment for Nigeria-China commercial engagements.
