Gbola Akinola Succeeds Busari as CIArb Nigeria Branch Chairman

A new Chairman for the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, CIArb, has been announced. He is Chief J. Akingbola Akinola, C.Arb, who succeeds Mr Olatunde Busari, SAN.

Chief Gbola Akinola is a practicing Lawyer, and seasoned Arbitrator. He is a Partner in the law firm of ‘The Law Union’. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, and is listed as a member of the Institute’s Panel of Chartered Arbitrators, and also of the Kigali International Arbitration Centre Panel of International Arbitrators, Kigali, Rwanda. He was a Past President of the Maritime Arbitrators Association of Nigeria (MAAN), and a member of the Board of Directors of LACIAC.

Chief Akinola’s election took place at the inaugural meeting of the 2021-2022 Executive Committee of the Institute, held on Thursday, 22nd of April, 2021.

Other office holders were also elected by the Executive Committee. Mrs Olusola Adegbonmire, C.Arb emerged as the 1st Vice Chairman, Prof Paul Idornigie, SAN, C.Arb, 2nd Vice Chairman, Mrs. Obosa Akpata, C.Arb, 3rd Vice Chairman and Mrs Josephine Akinwunmi, FCIArb as Secretary. Other Officers are Mr Akin Omisade, FCIArb, Treasurer, Dr Adeyemi Agbelusi, FCIArb, P.R.O, Mr Ibifubara Berenibara, FCIArb, Assistant Secretary, Mrs Seyilayo Ojo, C.Arb, Chairman Training Committee, Mrs. Obosa Akpata C.Arb, Chairman, Membership Committee, Mr. Olumide Sofowora, SAN, C.Arb, Regional Representative, and Mr. Tonye Krukrubor, Chapter Liaison.

In a release made available to the media, the new PRO, Dr Adeyemi Agbelusi, quoting the new Chairman in his acceptance speech, that he promised that “the Institute under his leadership would strengthen our training programmes, so that it will focus more on imparting the knowledge and skills required, for successful careers in the field of alternative dispute resolution”.

Chief Akinola gave further assurances that the new Executive will address some of the concerns militating against the optimisation of the benefits of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in Nigeria, and also promised to
work with other stakeholders in ensuring the growth of Arbitration in Nigeria.