Mediation Without Borders 🌍 – Stop No. 26 in Nigeria 🇳🇬 with Emmanuel Adedeji about Ethics, Education 💻🎓 & AI

Mediation Without Borders 🌍

Mediation Without Borders – Stop No. 26 in Nigeria 🇳🇬 with Emmanuel Adedeji about Ethics, Education 🎓 & AI 💻

Nigeria is not a new destination for Mediation Without Borders. We visited this fascinating country some time ago, but back then it was through a written article. This time, we’re returning with a video interview featuring Emmanuel Adedeji, a lawyer, mediator and arbitrator based in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

Emmanuel and I first met at an international conference on mediation ethics. Naturally, this became one of the main topics of our conversation, alongside artificial intelligence, education and the development of mediation in Nigeria.

From Lawyer to Mediator

Emmanuel has been practising law for around twenty years. What particularly interested me was how he manages to switch between the roles of lawyer, arbitrator and mediator. After all, an arbitrator makes decisions, while a mediator helps people find their own solutions.

Emmanuel admitted that this transition required a change in his mindset, especially when it came to asking questions and listening. Today, he even considers himself more of a mediator than a lawyer.

Mediation, Ethics and AI

We also explored Nigeria’s approach to alternative dispute resolution, including its Multi-Door Courthouse system. Although the country has developed institutional support for mediation, public awareness remains a significant challenge.

Our discussion then turned to ethical questions. Can mediation remain voluntary when participation is mandatory? And what happens when a mediator is later asked to act as an arbitrator in the same dispute?

Artificial intelligence added another dimension to these questions. Emmanuel uses tools such as ChatGPT and Claude, but we both recognise the importance of confidentiality. How can mediators benefit from AI without putting sensitive information at risk?

Bringing Mediation to Younger Generations

Towards the end of our conversation, we discussed how to make mediation more accessible to young people.

Emmanuel shared his plans to establish university mediation clubs and encourage international cooperation. I introduced my experiments with interactive games, including one inspired by the Four Ears Model of Communication.

Different approaches, but a similar goal: helping people understand communication and resolve conflicts before they escalate.

Beyond Borders

What I enjoyed most about this conversation was Emmanuel’s openness to sharing ideas and exploring future collaboration. It reminded me that mediation connects people across countries, professions and cultures.

Discover more episodes at mediacebezhranic.cz.

#MediationWithoutBorders #Mediation #Nigeria #MediationEthics #ArtificialIntelligence #ConflictResolution #MediationEducation

You can listen  to the entire interview at: