UNILAG, others partner on legal education

The Negotiation and Conflict Management Group International (NCMG International) and the International Senior Lawyers Project (ISLP) have successfully completed the inaugural capacity-building programme for faculty of the University of Lagos-NCMG College of Negotiation.

Building upon their successful implementation of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) programmes among members of the Nigerian judiciary, NCMG International has extended its mission of promoting the knowledge and practice of ADR in Nigeria and West Africa to academia.

The College of Negotiation happens to be the first of its kind in Nigeria and Africa at large and in partnership with the University of Lagos, NCMG International recently established the College based in Lagos, Nigeria as an institution specifically focused on promoting education related to ADR.

Kehinde Aina, initiator of the College of Negotiation said the College will begin its first academic semester of Instruction in September 2014 and in preparation NCMG International requested the pro bono support of an international legal expert to assist members of the faculty with the preparation of curricula for courses that will be offered.

According to Aina, “the College will be running master degree programme in Lagos Studies, Conflict Resolution and Conflict Management and the standard of operation is globalised.”

He noted that negotiation is fundamental to the growth of a business and co-existence of people in the country and is essential in bilateral deals, international transactions, commercial transactions, dispute resolution and communal clashes, adding that everything and anything is negotiable that is why it should be sought for by all institutions in Africa.

Michele Riley, representative of the International Senior Lawyers Project and a New York-based ADR specialist, was sent to collaborate with the Faculty in the inaugural programme-building efforts.

“We are looking at contents, how it will be structured and how it will be delivered to the students. Our focus will continue to be building capacity and that is why we will combine content and process to bring out the best,” Riley said.

Akin Ibidapo Obe, dean, faculty of law, UNILAG, reiterated that there is hardly any international institution where negotiation and conflict resolution is not part of their curriculum and that is why we see this as an important innovation in the curriculum.

IFEOMA OKEKE