Affiliated Scholar Presents at Works-In-Progress Conference

Banke Olagbegi-Oloba, a fall 2022 Affiliated Scholar at The Center for Negotiation and Dispute Resolution (CNDR), presented at the AALS ADR Section’s Works-In-Progress (WIP) Conference. The Conference, held from October 6-8 at the University of Oregon in Eugene, was hosted by the Law School’s Appropriate Dispute Resolution Center. Since 2007, WIP has brought together dispute resolution scholars and researchers to share their ideas and discuss their work in a rigorous and collegial atmosphere. The goal of the WIP is to cultivate a supportive environment for participants to learn from one another.

Olagbegi-Oloba is visiting the U.S. as a JAMS Weinstein Fellow to learn about court-connected mediation; in her home country of Nigeria, she is a leading proponent of ADR systems, and a Law Lecturer and Dispute Resolution practitioner with interest in International law.

At WIP, Olagbegi-Oloba presented on the current status and future of ADR in Nigeria, entitled “Rethinking Traditional ADR in Nigeria: A Special Focus on the King’s Palaces in Ondo State, Nigeria.” The country has formal and informal systems of dispute resolution; informally, local kings serve as daily dispute resolvers as part of their traditional ruling role. Olagbegi-Oloba lead a discussion of how Nigeria might better integrate ADR processes more formally in order to expand access to justice and decrease congestion in the courts, while still respecting the traditional processes.

CNDR Director and Professor Hiro Aragaki and Deputy Director Mattie Robertson also attended the 15th annual WIP Conference.