We are NICArb

Promoting ADR Since 1979 As The premier Institute in Nigeria (And Sub-Saharan Africa)


Who Are We?

The Nigeria Institute of Chartered Arbitrators (NICArb) is the premier arbitration institute in Nigeria founded in 1979 under the leadership of former Attorney General of Nigeria and former judge of the World Court at The Hague, Judge Bola Ajibola, SAN, KBE and duly incorporated in 1988 under the Companies Act as a legal entity Limited by Guarantee.

Since 1979, the Nigerian Institute has been at the forefront of promoting the domestication, knowledge and practice of arbitration and ADR in Nigeria and has gained a reputation as the preferred appointing authority and arbitration handling institution for a broad spectrum of commercial disputants.

Currently, we have a national presence through state branches headed by our Fellows in Abuja, Anambra, Akwa Ibom/Cross Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Kano/Kaduna, and Osun. Also has Sectorial Committees on Aviation and Transportation, Banking and Finance, Construction and Real Estate, Energy and Power, Government and Privatization, Manufacturing, Maritime and Admiralty, Public Private Partnership and Concession and Telecommunication. These state branches are headed by Fellows of the Institute.

The main strategies for the promotion of ADR adopted by the Nigerian Institute include advocacy, capacity building, research, arbitration referral services, strategic partnership and programme development. Professionals across the nation benefits from trainings, seminars, conferences and workshops on arbitration, mediation and other forms of ADR offered by the Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators.

As a member of the Nigerian Institute, access to the Institute’s library, journals, newsletters, listing on the Institutes faculty database, panel of neutrals and networking opportunities is granted amongst other benefits.

“Our members rank at par with ADR practitioners elsewhere across other jurisdictions. It is therefore not surprising that many of them handle matters outside the shores of Nigeria.”

Prof Fabian Ajogwu, SAN, FCArb

President & Governing Council Member, NICArb

"Congratulations for your impeccable outing. No wonder, your Institute has become a hot cake and a reference point. Your panel of resource persons are unarguably the very best in the pool of the best"

Chief Justice of Ekiti State

Chief Justice of Ekiti State

"We need institutions like the Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators to continuously push the development of Arbitration and ADR in not only Nigeria but Africa as whole."

Mrs Dorothy Ufot, SAN, FCArb

Founding Partner, Dorothy Ufot & Co