Enugu State is on the verge of a transformative leap in justice delivery, as the administration of Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah pushes forward a pioneering plan to institutionalize Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms across the state.
The historic stride took center stage during the maiden ADR Colloquium of the College of Arbitrators Nigeria LTD/GTE, held in Enugu under the theme “Rethinking Dispute Resolution in a Modern Society, Going Back to Our Roots.”
Representing the Governor at the event, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Legal Matters, Barr. Osinachi Nnajieze, played a commanding role in articulating the vision of the Mbah administration for a justice system that unites modern arbitration principles with traditional models of peaceful conflict settlement.
Delivering the Governor’s message, Barr. Nnajieze announced that the Enugu State Government has commenced plans to establish ADR centers across all 17 local government areas. These centers, he explained, will train mediators who combine legal expertise with cultural understanding, creating a hybrid framework that respects both law and tradition.
“ADR is not merely an alternative, it is a bridge between law and equity, between the courtroom and the community,” Barr. Nnajieze declared on behalf of the Governor. “Governor Mbah believes that true justice restores relationships and strengthens peace, not divides society.”
He further highlighted that the Governor’s administration seeks to revive Igbo indigenous systems of dialogue and reconciliation, such as the Igba Nkwu, Izu, and Ndi Nze na Ozo councils, which served as early models
