EDO Government and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) have canvassed the use of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to promote the ease of doing business.
The state government and the agency said this at a four-day training on ADR for Edo Government officials and private sector actors on Monday in Benin.
The Chief Judge of Edo, Justice Daniel Okungbowa said that ADR provided Micro Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) the speed and cost effectiveness for resolving disputes.
Okungbowa said that prompt commercial disputes resolution was key to economic growth.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training is being organised by GIZ via its Sustainable and Inclusive Economic Development for Decent Employment in Nigeria (SEDIN) in partnership with the Mediation Training Institute, Abuja.
The Chief Judge said “ARD opens the door for businesses to have access to a transparent, confident, safe and secure environment to air their concerns and to participate in proffering solutions to their challenges.
“This boost their sense of employment, empowerment and also engenders wealth creation by increasing job opportunities.”
He commended GIZ for its continued partnership with Edo government, adding that the training would position the state towards becoming a hub of ease of doing business in Nigeria.
“When players in the MSMEs have enough confidence in the institutional structure position to support them, they are more likely to increase investment and expand their reach,” he said.
On his part, Mr Osahon Okoh, Policy Adviser, GIZ-SEDIN, said the SEDIN programme was aimed at improving the ease of contract enforcement for MSMEs in Edo.
Okoh said the training was to equip Edo government officials as well as private actors the business space with mediation skills geared towards ease of doing business.
“This training is about the justice system. We understand that conflict resolution is a big deal when we talk about ease of doing business.
“And we see this training as a means of strengthening our institutions to handle disputes more amicably and to create an enabling environment where businesses and investors can actually come.
“The big picture for us is to see that the economy grows in terms of employment in the state,” he said.
NAN reports that the participants would undergo a certification course on Mediation skills Accreditation and the Workings of the Multi-Door Courthouse.
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