UNILAG Maritime Forum Hosts Maiden National Maritime Arbitration Competition

By Oluwatoyin Adewale

The Maritime Forum, University of Lagos (UNILAG) hosted the maiden edition of the National Maritime Arbitration Competition with legal experts, as a significant step towards preparing Nigerian law students for the realities of modern dispute resolution practice.

The competition which held on May 23, 2026, at the Faculty of Law Annex, featured simulated maritime arbitration proceedings and brought together students, legal practitioners and academics to explore the growing relevance of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) within Nigeria’s Legal Sector.

The Dean of Faculty of Law, Professor Abiola Sanni commended the organisers for the introduction of such an initiative and encouraged attendees to be open-minded, taking advantage of the experts’ knowledge.

The Staff Adviser of the Maritime Forum, Prof. Adewale Olawoyin (SAN), described ADR as the “new legal practice,” noting that most high-value commercial disputes across the world are increasingly being resolved through arbitration rather than litigation.

“Most complex transactions globally and within Nigeria are now turning towards ADR,” he said.

“The practice of arbitration is different from litigation because parties usually choose experts in the field to determine disputes, meaning advocates must be thoroughly prepared.”

Olawoyin noted that students should develop specialised interests in some areas of law, including areas like maritime law and arbitration, as they could carve a niche and build recognition.

UNILAG was represented by Toveshede Ebenezer and Adebayo Roqeeb, while the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) was represented by Blessed Oyegbami and Titus Oyinloye.

UNILAG emerged winner of the competition and was awarded a cash prize of N500,000.

Legal practitioners in attendance applauded the performance of the participants, noting their display of intelligence in tackling a case superior practitioners still find critical.

Critiquing the participants’ performance, one of the guest arbitrators, Koye Akoni praised the participants’ advocacy skills but advised them to focus on structure, simplicity and clarity in legal submissions.

“Good advocacy is about structure,” he said.

“If you have two good points, give your two good points.

“Do not surround them with fifteen weak ones.”

Organizers described the event as the beginning of a long-term platform for developing future maritime arbitration practitioners in Nigeria.