The 2021 Annual Report documents NICArb's resilience and innovation during a year of continued global uncertainty. Despite ongoing challenges, the Institute demonstrated agility by embracing digital transformation and adapting service delivery to meet evolving stakeholder needs. This comprehensive report details our achievements in sustaining training programmes through hybrid formats, maintaining case administration services, supporting members through uncertain times, and positioning NICArb for post-pandemic growth. Our strategic investments in technology and human capital development yielded positive results. The report provides stakeholders with complete transparency on our operations, financial health, governance practices, and forward-looking strategies. It demonstrates NICArb's commitment to serving as a stabilizing force in Nigeria's dispute resolution landscape.
I have the pleasure in presenting you with the 2021 Annual Report and Financial Statements containing the details of another great year of activities, and programmes of the Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators (NICArb). One of the first and most significant achievement of your Institute in the year 2021, was the purchase of its corporate office in January 2021, enabling its Arbitral and ADR Centre to become fully operational. Together with its eleven (11) branches in Nigeria, the membership spread of the Institute covers all regions of the country, with more than five thousand (5000) members, including new members from several other countries who joined NICArb this year. The dynamism of our members was well received throughout the year 2021 with the General meetings and the branches, and more importantly with the Committees of our Annual General Meeting (AGM) in August. The Meeting of the Management of NICArb, and the 2021 Annual Conference/Investiture and Presidential Dinner also held in the period under review. The Institute and its members clearly showed their resiliency and ability to adapt their mode of engagement and work in this post-Covid pandemic period. In its never-ending desire for proximity with customers or clients, the Institute rolled out an online Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform in October 2021, called Glue up online all-in-one CRM platform, with the major aim of enhancing membership engagement, loyalty, and the delivery of Arbitration and ADR quality service. This was also achieved through awareness creation and strategic partnership. We can mention among others, the participation of our members in UNCITRAL's Work Group II activities, the Institute's participation in exhibition and conferences, and the NICArb Enugu Branch and Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Enugu Joint Hosting of the NBA Week. Consistent with our mission, we keep providing excellent professional training in Arbitration and ADR methods, physical, virtual, and hybrid. The Institute has also introduced this year a Mentorship Program, to teach young members the art of practical skills in arbitration practice, and has driven its Young Arbitrators Network (YAN) to an inaugural Young Arbitrators Virtual Debate Tournament. Significant work was done in the learning development (through several seminars, webinars, and workshops), in digital space engagement and initiatives, research and publication. I urge you to read and digest this year's Annual Report and also find areas in which you can contribute to the development of our great Institute. On behalf of the Governing Council, and members of our Institute, I commend the management and staff for their efforts and dedication in achieving the activities presented in this Report. We look forward to strengthening the synergies with all our partners, sponsors, friends, and everyone who has contributed in making 2021 a great year for our Institute, and for the arbitral community at large. Professor Fabian Ajogwu, SAN President and Chairman Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators
The 2021 Annual Report documents NICArb's resilience and innovation during a year of continued global uncertainty. Despite ongoing challenges, the Institute demonstrated agility by embracing digital transformation and adapting service delivery to meet evolving stakeholder needs. This comprehensive report details our achievements in sustaining training programmes through hybrid formats, maintaining case administration services, supporting members through uncertain times, and positioning NICArb for post-pandemic growth. Our strategic investments in technology and human capital development yielded positive results. The report provides stakeholders with complete transparency on our operations, financial health, governance practices, and forward-looking strategies. It demonstrates NICArb's commitment to serving as a stabilizing force in Nigeria's dispute resolution landscape.