Job Osazuwa
There were encomiums from colleagues and associates on the former Attorney General of Nigeria and Minister of Justice, Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN) and Chief (Mrs.) Tinuade Oyekunle who recently launched their book in Lagos.
The co-authors, whom were described as the first and second chartered arbitrators in Nigeria, revealed that it took them four years to complete the book. They explained that they were not in haste to publish just any work but a book that could answer most questions on arbitration for students, teachers, professionals and researchers.
It was a gathering of old and young lawyers who came from different parts of Nigeria to felicitate with their own – the authors whom many of the speakers described as diligent practitioners who have distinguished themselves in the profession.
The book titled, “Handbook of Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Practice in Nigeria”, with 24 chapters, was launched at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The chairman of the occasion, Chief Arthur Mbanefo, who was the former Nigerian permanent representative to the United Nations, urged educated Nigerians especially those in the academia to write textbooks to support learning in their respective fields.
Mbanefo, who is the Odu of Onitsha, said the handbook is such a book that is intended to project Nigerian application of relevant laws and jurisprudence.
“We keep establishing universities, yet we don’t have enough textbooks for the students. We need quality books to enrich learning. The importance of this book becomes clear when one considers the current growth in the practice of commercial arbitration and ADR in Nigeria.
“Educated Nigerians particularly those in the academia have consistently shied away from writing books especially text books to support the subject they profess.
“The result is that it has become rare to find textbooks in matters of noble and international applications to document the Nigerian experience and relevance,” he said.
He, therefore, commended the authors for their contributions in the education and knowledge of ADR by documenting it in a book. He said that the national education policy should stress the need to write more books.
“I recommend that this book be adopted by all institutions of legal studies and practice in Nigeria as a standard textbook for arbitration and ADR practice in Nigeria as well as a useful book for reference purposes,” Mbanefo said.
While reviewing the book, Prof. Paul Idornigie (SAN), who said he was privileged to have been assigned the assignment, stated that the title of the book had been a subject of debate among academics.
According to him, there is a huge debate among academics, practitioners and users of ADR as to whether arbitration is part of ADR.
He said judging from the authors’ contributions in the field of arbitrary practice in Nigeria spanning over four decades their experience came to bear in writing the book.
On what inspired them to write the books, he said the authors acknowledged in the book that the idea emanated from late Sunday Oladeinde Oyekunle, who before his death advised Bayo and his wife to document their years of experience for the generation coming after them to tap from. He said they both accepted the challenge and swung into action, which gave birth to the book four years after.