LCA premieres ‘City Legal’ radio show

In line with promoting awareness for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in Nigeria, the Lagos Court of Arbitration (LCA) has embarked on a radio programme, ‘City Legal’, which runs on Tuesdays by 10:00am and Thursdays by 05:30pm, on Smooth FM 98.1.

The 15-minutes programme targeted as Large Corporations, Small and Medium Scale Business Owners, International Organisations, Consumers, among others, is created to enlighten and empower the public on ADR and the LCA’s role in bringing mediation and arbitration to the fore-front in dispute resolution.

Through its episodes, the programme will feature top lawyers, legal and financial analysts, as well as personalities in the Nigerian Corporate and Business Environment. Present on the show are Partner and Head, Dispute Resolution Practice Group, Aelex, Mrs. Olufunke Adekoya (SAN); Associate Director and Head of Research, Nigerian Economic Summit Group, Dr. Sope Williams-Elegbe; Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, Professor Chidi Odinkalu, Managing Director and Chief Executive of Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Mr. Bismarck Rewane; amongst others. 

Megha Joshi, Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos Court of Arbitration, while speaking on the programme, said that the time was right given that the topic on Arbitration was relatively new to Nigerians. 

“We strongly believe that this programme is what Nigeria needs now as it presents a wide array of topics that addresses any questions they have concerning arbitration and mediation,” she said.

Joshi restated that the LCA represents the private sector taking initiative to enhance infrastructure and provide dispute resolution services to help businesses operate easily. According to her there is the necessity for efficient dispute resolution mechanisms to be in place in order for businesses to embrace arbitration, emphasizing how it enhances the nation’s economy.  

Over the last one year, the Lagos Court of Arbitration has been engaging businesses and stakeholders within and outside of Nigeria on the increasing need for an international standard alternative dispute resolution center. These initiatives include capacity building among judicial officers as well as drumming up awareness for the LCA internationally including the International Market Place Conference at the Law Society of England & Wales in London, International Business Law in Africa Conference held in Mauritius, and International Bar Association (IBA) 2013 Annual Conference held in Boston recently. 

The City Legal radio programme is an additional feather to LCA’s cap in boosting awareness and engaging individuals and businesses on the need to embrace arbitration as a faster and more efficient method of resolving disputes.