The AALCO Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre (AALCO-HKRAC) was honoured to participate in the 2025 International Arbitration and ADR Conference, hosted by the Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators (NICArb) in Lagos, Nigeria. Held under the theme “Strengthening Institutional Arbitration and ADR in Africa: Charting a New Path,” the conference brought together global leaders and experts to explore the evolving role of arbitration and mediation in advancing justice, economic growth, and legal innovation.
Representing AALCO-HKRAC, Dennis Cai, Deputy Director of the Centre, addressed the conference virtually, sharing insights on the Centre’s regional mission and its commitment to promoting structured, institutionally administered dispute resolution. His remarks emphasised the growing importance of cross-continental collaboration, especially as Asia and Africa increasingly align on the need for credible, efficient, and technology-driven ADR mechanisms.
Dennis Cai highlighted AALCO-HKRAC’s work in fostering institutional arbitration and mediation across the Asia-Pacific, in line with the broader objectives of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization (AALCO). He also announced the Centre’s upcoming launch of Hong Kong’s first-ever mediation and arbitration platform for sports disputes, a pioneering initiative aimed at addressing the unique needs of the sports industry in a professional and neutral setting.
The presentation further underscored the transformative role of LawTech and Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) in widening access to justice and streamlining the resolution process. He noted that the integration of digital tools into traditional ADR frameworks is not only a matter of efficiency, but a necessary evolution in serving cross-border users with speed, transparency, and affordability.
In addition to institutional development, he emphasised the critical importance of continuous professional training for arbitrators and mediators, particularly in emerging fields such as domain name disputes and technology-related conflicts. AALCO-HKRAC remains committed to capacity building and knowledge sharing across jurisdictions.
The significance of this year’s NICArb Conference was marked by the presence and support of His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos State. Their patronage reflects the growing recognition of ADR as a key driver of institutional trust and economic development.
The conference featured a distinguished lineup of speakers, including Anna Joubin-Bret, Secretary of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL); Wang Chengjie, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC); Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN, Attorney-General of the Federation of Nigeria; Hon. Dorcas Oduor, Attorney-General of Kenya; and Mazi Afam Osigwe SAN, President of the Nigerian Bar Association.
AALCO-HKRAC commends NICArb for convening such a timely and impactful platform for dialogue. As a regional arbitration centre established under the auspices of AALCO, AALCO-HKRAC looks forward to continued collaboration with African institutions and stakeholders to shape a more connected, resilient, and inclusive global ADR ecosystem.
