The Lekki, Lagos offices of the law firm, Perchstone & Graeys (P&G), hosted a press briefing organized on Monday, September 23, 2025 by the Business Law Academy (BLA) and the Fotefa Mediation Academy, on their forthcoming FREE Masterclass in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms and emotional intelligence for early-stage and established lawyers, as well as members of the organized private sector in the country.
NEWSWIRE Law Events Magazine’s correspondent reports that the press briefing was graced by Dr. Tolulope Aderemi, a Partner at P&G and a Visiting Professor at the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State (ABUAD); Fola Alade, an Attorney-Mediator and Notary-Public who is the Founder/Principal Partner at FOTEFA Partners LP (a bespoke mediation firm in Nigeria); and Fola Akintunde, (who stood in for Mr. Olukayode Fabunmi, the Director of the Business Law Academy), among others.
Welcoming members of the media to the briefing, Dr. Aderemi noted the rapid growth of the economies of Nigeria and the rest of the globe, and the consequent possibility of disputes that naturally underlie such growth, and said that the resort to litigation as a means of resolving said disputes is fast losing its appeal – due to a number of weaknesses that have been identified over the years. He listed some of these weaknesses to include the high cost of litigation processes in the face of declining budgets, and the seemingly interminable nature of some litigation processes (which often take years, if not decades, to resolve – not to mention the possibility of appeal, which could set off yet another endless litigation cycle).
ADR, on the other hand, Aderemi said, is an agile, practical, time-efficient and non-adversarial dispute-resolution method increasingly being preferred by consumers of legal services across the spectrum of individual and corporate interests.
In Nigeria in particular, he added, the ADR ecosystem has been given a massive boost with the promulgation of the 2023 Arbitration Act.
“Let’s be lawyers again,” he said while urging wigs to embrace ADR (and in particular, this masterclass) with its emphasis on win-win, and on the ethics of the legal profession (among them dispute-avoidance, the enhancement of professional loyalty – which, he said, was the function of counsel having a keen understanding of the client’s pain-point) rather than invoices.
He concluded by urging lawyers at various stages in their careers to take advantage of the forthcoming masterclass (which will span a period of 12 weeks) to boost their careers while adding a fresh and innovative dimension to their client-service profile.
Also speaking, Alade, the FOTEFA founder, weighed in on the key objectives of the masterclass – which include capacity building, i.e. to equip young lawyers, and lawyers new to ADR, with a solid foundation in both the traditional pillars of ADR and emerging mechanisms reshaping the practice today. Other objectives highlighted by him include sharpening the practitioner’s advocacy, analytical and inter-personal skills to prepare them for domestic and international engagements; and the creation of pathways to accreditations and other career opportunities via individual and corporate networking.
Describing ADR as the ‘tech’ of dispute resolution, he said it passes what he called ‘the test of universality’ – which is a great attribute in our evolving world of globalization and borderlessness.
Alade disclosed that though free of charge, prospective participants at the 12-week masterclass, which would have to go through a rigorous screening test to qualify.
The masterclass which would take the form of well-curated hybrid (interactive live and online) modules, would feature a faculty of highly-accomplished resource-persons such as the afore-mentioned Dr. Tolu Aderemi, Mr. Kayode Fabunmi and Mr. Fola Alade. Others include Mr. Kolawole Mayomi; Mrs. Laura Alakija; Mr. Rotimi Ogunyemi and Mr. Isaiah Bozimo, SAN, to name but a few.
The focus of this masterclass, according to the organizers, is specialization rather than generalisation – meaning that there would be a high number of bespoke, sector-specific sessions, during which each resource-person would offer not just theoretical knowledge but also the benefits of his/her own lived and practical experiences. At the end of the programme, they disclosed, certificates would be issued to graduates.
Speaking on behalf of the BLA’s Director (Mr. Fabunmi) Fola Akintunde emphasized the expected impact of the masterclass. Describing the masterclass as a ‘milestone’ in the career of any lawyer, she said graduates would emerge as confident and well-rounded ADR professionals capable of steering negotiations, mediations and arbitrations with professionalism and empathy. Their expertise, she added, would resonate beyond the virtual classroom – into boardrooms, communities and international arbitration halls. Even in areas of practice other than ADR, she said, lawyers would be able to incorporate certain ADR principles in their drafts.
This masterclass, Akintunde added, was a demonstration of the BLA’s commitment to strengthening the Nigerian and African ADR ecosystem with a view to easing the pressure on the country’s overburdened courts and fostering a culture of peaceful and efficient dispute resolution and conflict management.
She concluded her remarks by expressing satisfaction at the fact that even the courts, of various jurisdictions, are now actively encouraging ADR processes – a development which, she said, will contribute to a more stable commercial environment in Nigeria, which in turn will attract investment and support sustainable economic growth.
NEWSWIRE’s correspondent reports that the various presentations were followed by an equally lively question-and-answer session which addressed critical issues of interest and concern.
-Advertisement-
Grab our latest Magazine, "Chief Wole Olanipekun, CFR, SAN, A man of wide horizons and deep intentions". Get your order fast and stress free.
For more details about Newswire Law&Events Magazine, kindly reach out to us on 08039218044, 09070309355. Email: newswiremagazine@yahoo.co.uk. You will be glad you did
