Please join us for an afternoon and evening of discussion and debate, followed by networking. The event is aimed at more junior practitioners, but all are welcome to attend. We hope that you will be able to join us for what we are sure will be a very lively and enjoyable program.

On 29 September 2025 in Lagos, Nigeria, the Young ITA, and Young ICCA bring together practitioners and emerging voices for an engaging program on crafting a persuasive case in international arbitration.. The event opens with an interactive workshop, where facilitators and participants discuss tips for case preparation including witness selection, preparation and examination, as well as oral and written submissions, and participants apply the skills and techniques learnt to a case scenario provided at the beginning of the event. It then moves into a fireside chat, where two leading experts share insights from their practice and answer audience questions. The evening concludes with a networking cocktail reception, giving participants the chance to connect and exchange ideas in a relaxed setting.

3:00 PM to 7:30 PM West Africa Time (WAT)

#YoungITATalks is a series of local events presented around the world, featuring talks, workshops or interviews that cover a wide range of subjects relating to arbitration. The #YoungITATalks series is designed for education, conversation and sharing knowledge and experiences among young practitioners.

Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, this event is tuition-free and includes an evening cocktail sponsored by Aluko & Oyebode and Gateley, with the virtual facilities graciously provided by The Lagos Chamber of Commerce International Arbitration Centre (LACIAC).

Schedule and Speakers

2:30 PM - Registration

3:00 PM - Welcome

Dr. Paul Kimani, Young ITA Africa Co-Chair, Partner, Paul Andrew Advocates, Nairobi, Kenya
Ms. Chizaram Mbah, Young ICCA Scholarships Co-Director, Aluko & Oyebode, Lagos Nigeria

3:05 PM–4:45 PM - Practising Advocacy Through Case Study - Panel Discussion: Part 1

The opening session, Practising Advocacy Through Case Study, immerses participants in the realities of international arbitration advocacy. Using a specially designed case study, speakers will guide attendees through the key stages of building and presenting a case, from preparation and witness selection to cross-examination and effective written submissions. This interactive format encourages participants to engage directly with the material, sharpen practical skills, and gain insights into the strategies that shape persuasive advocacy before arbitral tribunals.

Moderator: Ms. Chizaram Mbah, Young ICCA Scholarships Co-Director, Aluko & Oyebode, Lagos Nigeria

Panelists:

Mr. Oladimeji Ojo, Legal Counsel, International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), World Bank Group
Ms. Perenami Momodu, International Arbitration Consultant, Head of Africa Practice, Gateleyn

4:45 PM – 5:30 PM - Insights from the Practice of International Arbitration

The second session, Insights from Leading Practitioners in International Arbitration, features a fireside chat with two distinguished experts, Babatunde Fagbohunlu, SAN (Senior Partner, Aluko & Oyebode) and Funke Adekoya, SAN (Independent Arbitrator). They will share practical strategies and lessons from their extensive experience, covering case theory and preparation, witness handling, cross-examination, and persuasive written submissions. The discussion will also address tribunal dynamics, professional ethics, efficiency in proceedings, and emerging trends in international arbitration, while inviting questions from the audience to ensure participants leave with actionable insights.

Moderator: Ms. Joy Mgbado, Young ITA Africa Co-Chair, Senior Associate, Aluko & Oyebode, Lagos, Nigeria

Panelists:

Mr. Babatunde Fagbohunlu, SAN, Senior Partner, Aluko & Oyebode
Ms. Funke Adekoya, SAN, Independent Arbitrator

5:30 PM – 5:45 PM - Closing remarks

Dr. Paul Kimani, Young ITA Africa Co-Chair, Partner, Paul Andrew Advocates, Nairobi, Kenya

5:45 PM – 7:30 PM - Networking Cocktail Reception

Speakers

Oladimeji Ojo
Legal Counsel
International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID)
World Bank Group

Mr. Oladimeji Ojo is a Legal Counsel at the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). He is a solicitor and advocate licensed to practice in Nigeria and New York, with over a decade of experience in first instance and appellate litigation, commercial and investment arbitration, and other forms of dispute resolution across a wide range of industries, including oil and gas, real estate, taxation, renewable energy, telecommunications and emerging technologies, banking, and agriculture. At ICSID, Oladimeji manages investor-state disputes administered on the basis of the ICSID Convention and its arbitration, conciliation, mediation, and additional facility rules.

Perenami Momodu
International Arbitration Consultant
Head of Africa Practice, Gateleyn

Ms. Perenami Momodu is a Consultant within Gateley Plc’s International Arbitration Group where she is also the Head of Gateley’s Africa Practice. Prior to joining Gateley, she was a Partner at AELEX (Nigeria & Ghana) for four years. She has over 14 years’ experience in cross-border, complex, high stakes, arbitration and litigation within West Africa.

She represents clients in arbitrations in sectors such as energy, manufacturing, retail, maritime, infrastructure and foreign investments under institutional rules such as the LCIA, ICC, ICSID and UNCITRAL. She is currently handling complex arbitrations in Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya arising out of related post Mergers & Acquisition transactions. She also regularly sits as arbitrator in domestic disputes.

She is ranked as a National Leader in both Litigation and Arbitration by Who’s Who Legal: Nigeria. She also advises on insolvency related disputes and in 2019, she received a Special Recognition Award from the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for her involvement in the insolvency and business rescue reforms in Nigeria.

She is a member of the Disputes Resolution & Thematic Areas of the Nigerian National Assembly Business Environment Roundtable and a council member of the Nigerian Bar Association, Section on Business Law.

Babatunde Fagbohunlu, SAN
Senior Partner
Aluko & Oyebode

Mr. Babatunde Fagbohunlu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators UK, heads the Disputes Practice Group at Aluko & Oyebode. He regularly acts as counsel to Nigerian as well as foreign and multinational clients in Ad Hoc and institutional arbitrations, and has served as arbitrator in several cases, including arbitrations administered by the ICC and the LCIA. Mr. Fagbohunlu has also served on the Federal Government of Nigeria’s Committee on the Reform and Harmonization of Arbitration/ADR Laws. He co-authored the book “Arbitration in Africa: A Review of Key Jurisdictions” published by Sweet and Maxwell in 2016.

He has served on the Court of the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) and on the Board of Directors of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce International Arbitration Centre (LACIAC). He was recently appointed to the Body of Neutrals of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission ADR Centre and as a delegate to represent the International Law Association at the 49th Session of the UNCITRAL Working Group III on the reform of Investor-State Dispute Settlement. He also presently serves on the Board of Advisors of Delos Dispute Resolution and the Governing Board of the International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA).

Funke Adekoya, SAN
Independent Arbitrator

Mrs. Funke Adekoya, SAN is an independent arbitrator with over 45 years of experience in commercial litigation and corporate dispute resolution. Formerly a Partner and Head of Dispute Resolution at ǼLEX, she advised and represented international organizations including the African Development Bank and the Islamic Development Bank. She now regularly sits as arbitrator in high-value institutional proceedings under the LCIA, ICC, and ICSID Rules, and has acted as party-appointed, sole, or presiding arbitrator in both international and domestic ad hoc arbitrations.

Joy Mgbado
Young ITA Africa Co-Chair
Senior Associate
Aluko & Oyebode
Lagos, Nigeria

Ms. Joy Mgbado is a Senior Associate at Aluko & Oyebode, Nigeria, and a key member of the firm’s Dispute Resolution Practice Group. She specializes in energy and infrastructure disputes and has represented large corporate entities and multinationals, both as counsel and in advisory roles, on several complex and high-value claims in the energy and construction sectors. She has also provided support on disputes arising from a wide range of issues, including aviation, telecommunications, taxation, lending and finance, intra-corporate disputes, and general contracts and commercial law transactions.

As counsel, Joy has worked on institutional arbitrations under the ICC and LCIA Rules, and on ad-hoc arbitrations, including a PCA-administered ad-hoc arbitration. She also regularly acts as counsel in arbitration-related court proceedings, such as those for interim protective measures and the annulment/enforcement of awards, and on domestic litigations across all levels of courts in Nigeria.

In 2024, Joy was recognized among the 40 under 40 Nigerian Rising Stars by the ESQ Nigerian Legal Awards. She also received the Africa Arbitration Academy Award Prize for excellence in legal writing in 2024 and was peer-recognized as one of 30 Exceptional Female Lawyers making a difference in Africa (LegallyYes, March 2025).vised and represented international organizations including the African Development Bank and the Islamic Development Bank. She now regularly sits as arbitrator in high-value institutional proceedings under the LCIA, ICC, and ICSID Rules, and has acted as party-appointed, sole, or presiding arbitrator in both international and domestic ad hoc arbitrations.

Dr. Paul Kimani
Young ITA Africa Co-Chair
Partner
Paul Andrew Advocates,
Nairobi, Kenya

Dr. Paul Kimani is the Young ITA Africa Co-Chair and a Partner at Paul Andrew Advocates, a Nairobi-based law firm with a cross-border focus. He advises on commercial transactions, contract negotiations, and multi-jurisdictional disputes in arbitration and litigation, with expertise spanning corporate law, international trade, intellectual property, climate adaptation, and emerging digital technologies. Recognized among the Top 100 Commercial Lawyers in Kenya (2024) by The Lawyer Africa, while Paul Andrew Advocates was named International Corporate Law Firm of the Year – Kenya (2024) by MEA Markets’, African Excellence Awards. In addition to practice, Paul lectures at the University of Nairobi, serves as an Associate at the University of Exeter Law School, and has published widely on contemporary legal issues. He holds a PhD in Law from the University of Exeter, an LLM from UCL, and an LLB from the University of Nairobi.

Chizaram Mbah
Young ICCA Scholarships Co-Director
Aluko & Oyebode
Lagos Nigeria

Ms. Chizaram Mbah is a commercial dispute settlement lawyer qualified to practice in Nigeria, and a Senior Associate at ALN Nigeria | Aluko & Oyebode.

She advises and represents clients in commercial litigation proceedings at both trial and appellate levels. She also represents clients in ad hoc arbitrations and in institutional arbitrations administered by arbitral institutions such as the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), and the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA). Her experience cuts across disputes arising out of several key sectors and industries with significant experience in energy and construction disputes.

Chizaram is the founder of Arbitration Podium, an initiative dedicated to showcasing the development of arbitration in Africa. She also serves as Scholarships Co-Director at Young ICCA, and as Ambassador of Swiss Arbitration in Nigeria under the Swiss Arbitration Association (ASA) Ambassador Programme.

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Crafting a Persuasive Case in International Arbitration Proceedings:

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