Dr. Tolu Aderemi, Partner at the Firm Perchstone & Graeys and Chairman of the NBA Lagos 2025 Law Conference, has launched an Alternative Dispute Resolution and Emotional Intelligence training session for young lawyers. At a press briefing on 22nd September, 2025, Dr. Aderemi announced the training session in partnership with Mr. Fola Alade of FOTEFA Mediation Academy and the Business Law Academy.
Dr. Tolu Aderemi, in his introduction, highlighted how alternative dispute resolution, particularly arbitration has over the years become effective in resolving commercial disputes. Dr. Aderemi further explained that the upcoming Master Class will not only address ADR mechanisms but also emphasize dispute avoidance strategies. According to him, the one-year intensive training program, jointly driven by the Business Law Academy and Fotefa Mediation Academy, will cover ADR, Dispute Avoidance strategy and Emotional Intelligence, thereby producing more well-rounded practitioners.
Mr. Fola Alade of FOTEFA Mediation Academy also provided an overview of the program’s structure. He stated that it will run as a 12-week online course, designed to empower the next generation of dispute resolution practitioners. The program aims to equip lawyers, with a solid foundation in both the traditional pillars of ADR and sharpen the advocacy, analytical and interpersonal skills that define a competent ADR professional, while ensuring that participants are practice-ready for domestic and international engagements.
Mr. Alade outlined that the Master Class will begin with an orientation by Dr. Tolu Aderemi, followed by a negotiation module by Dr. Kolawole Mayomi, a mediation module to be led by Mr. Alade himself, and an arbitration module to be facilitated by Mr. Aaron Ogletree. Other facilitators will include Mrs Laura Alakija, Mr. Hamid Abdulkarim, and Mr. Rotimi Ogunyemi.
While the training session will practical sessions, the program’s impact will be in threefold:
- For participants – producing confident, well-grounded ADR practitioners capable of stirring negotiation, mediation and Arbitration with professionalism and empathy.
- For the profession – strengthening Africa’s and Nigeria’s ADR ecosystem, decongesting the court dockets, and promoting a culture of peaceful dispute resolution.
- For society and businesses – fostering dispute avoidance and efficient dispute management, thereby improving the commercial environment.
Mrs. Fola, representing the Business Law Academy, while also addressing the audience explained that the program will open with an introduction to ADR, the history and global trends and feature carefully curated modules on ADR, dispute avoidance, and emotional intelligence. According to her, the course will blend theory with practical application, culminating in a closing ceremony that will showcase ADR simulations and celebrate participants’ growth. She concluded that the initiative will contribute to a more stable commercial environment, attract investment, and support sustainable economic growth.
During the interactive session, Mr. Austin Inyam asked about the advantages of ADR and whether non-lawyers could participate in the program. In response, Dr. Tolu Aderemi outlined the many advantages of ADR, including its speed, cost-effectiveness, and ability to preserve business relationships, while acknowledging that the traditional court system remains indispensable in the legal framework. He emphasized that, at best, both methods of dispute resolution should coexist. He further stressed that lawyers, as users of the Act, must understand not only the law but also the underlying principles of arbitration to prevent traits of litigation from finding their way into ADR practice. He concluded by noting that the Master Class is designed exclusively for legal practitioners.
Expanding on the subject, Dr. Alade described ADR as the “technology of dispute resolution,” likening its impact to that of technological innovation. He noted that ADR is universally recognized, enabling practitioners to operate across borders without the licensing barriers faced by litigators. He also observed that clients today are increasingly impatient and prefer their disputes to be resolved swiftly. As a result, they weigh the cost–benefit of pursuing a case in court for years even when they have strong claims, against the value of speedy justice, the likelihood of appeals, and the potential strain on business relationships. He noted that clients are also more inclined to seek lawyers with specialized expertise in the relevant area of dispute who can deliver effective and timely resolutions while preserving professional relationships with the opposing party.
Dr. Tolu Aderemi, in his closing remark, emphasized that the overarching objective of the Master Class is to develop well-rounded ADR experts. He assured participants that the faculty will focus not only on theoretical knowledge but also on practical application to ensure lasting impact.
Dr. Aderemi reiterated that this program, the first of its kind in Nigeria, will offer one of the highest levels of training on ADR combined with emotional intelligence. While the participation process will be rigorous to ensure quality, successful candidates will receive certificates at the end of the program. He also expressed appreciation to the Business Law Academy and Fotefa Mediation Academy for their partnership.
The mode of participation will be announced shortly and all lawyers are encouraged to participate fully in the training.
