The Mediation Training Institute has urged all Alternative Dispute Resolution organisations operating in the country to comply with statutory requirements governing training and consultancy services.
It also warned that institutions operating outside the legal framework risk invalidating their certificates and misleading the public.
In a statement issued on Friday by its President, Segun Ogunyannwo, the institute said it is ready to support any ADR body seeking accreditation from the Centre for Management Development or working to secure a charter through an Act of Parliament.
Ogunyannwo referenced the Nigerian Council for Management Development Act 2022, which mandates all organisations involved in training and consultancy to be accredited by the CMD, along with three principal officers, typically the President, Registrar and Director of Training.
He stressed that any institution not accredited by the CMD is “operating illegally” and therefore not qualified to train, certify or induct professionals.
“Any certificate issued by an organisation operating illegally is defective and illegal. That is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
“My personal investigation reveals that only the Mediation Training Institute of all the ADR organisations in Nigeria has fully complied with the legal requirement to get the organisation, as well as three principal officers, accredited by CMD.
“We are therefore extending a hand of Fellowship to other ADR organisations who are yet to comply. The ADR space in Nigeria is very wide; we can and indeed should support one another.’
Ogunyannwo also raised concerns about organisations using the title “Chartered” without meeting the legal requirements.
He noted that for any institute to bear the designation, it must first be established by an Act of the National Assembly, which grants it a charter and outlines its powers and functions.
“Until the above is done, using the name ‘Chartered’ is at best speculative, at worst deceptive,” he warned.
Responding to claims by some groups that their members are “chartered” even when the institute is not, he questioned the logic:
“How is that possible? The legal principle that nothing comes from nothing naturally applies.”
He emphasised that misleading the public undermines the credibility of the ADR sector and contributes to the “credential validation crisis” caused by unregulated training institutions.
The MTI-Nigeria president urged ADR practitioners and prospective trainees to interrogate the legal status of their institutions, demand documentation and seek clarity on accreditation and charter processes.
Ogunyannwo assured organisations that MTI-Nigeria is willing to provide guidance and support to help them achieve lawful accreditation and comply with national standards.
“Don’t be afraid or ashamed to seek help. We are in this together. What concerns one concerns all,” he added.
He also stressed that protecting the integrity of the ADR community requires honesty, transparency and adherence to established procedures.
He said MTI-Nigeria remains committed to strengthening the ADR ecosystem in Nigeria and ensuring that no legally compliant organisation is left behind.
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