The Director General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Mr. Osita Aboloma, was among dignitaries conferred with the honorary fellowship of the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators (ICMC) during the week in Abuja.
The conferment took place during the annual conference and induction ceremony of the Institute at the National Judicial Institute, Abuja with the theme “Myth and Reality of Agitations; The Place of Consensus Buildingâ€
The ICMC is a professional body of practitioners in Nigeria that regulates and sets standards for the practice of mediation and conciliation. It promotes the use of mediation as an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanism in the effective administration of justice.
The institute through ADR also ensures integration of continous dialogue and popular participation in policies of governance, promotion of peace and harmonious co-existence at home, work place and society at large.
Giving a goodwill message before his induction, the DG SON stated that the Organisation has fully embraced ADR in its service delivery as business facilitators, using the instrument of standardisation and quality assurance.
According to him, SON has trained about 40 of its staff from different departments on ADR and plans to train many more.
Aboloma stated that ADR provides greater choices for settlement of disputes and misunderstandings in the workplace, businesses and private interactions under a win win situation.
He expressed appreciation to the institute for the recognition of SON and many of its staff as worthy members to further advance the course of ADR.
Welcoming participants to the conference, the President of ICMC, Mr. Emeka Obegolu, enumerated the recent strides of the institute in lending its resources to national efforts in building a more peaceful and harmonious society.
He admonished the inductees to make available their acquired skills in mediation to communities in desperate need of knowledgeable and experienced professionals and peace builders.
The occasion was declared open by the Governor of Plateau State, Hon. Simon Lalung who was also inducted as honorary fellow.
Lalung acknowledged the great role of ADR professionals in bringing peace to Plateau State and other states of the federation to embrace the mechanisms.
Other honorary fellowship inductees at the occasion included, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, Governor Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe State; Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman, INEC; Mr. Olanrewaju Onadeko, DG, Nigerian Law School ; HRM Dr. Emmanuel Efeizomor, Chairman, Delta State Traditional Rulers Council and Mr. Ifeanyi Uba of Capital Oil.
