On Thursday, the Enugu State Multi-Door Courthouse (ESMDC) inducted 22 mediators to handle alternative dispute resolutions (ADR).

The Enugu State Multi-Door Courthouse is a court-connected alternative dispute resolution (ADR) centre that provides mediation, arbitration, neutral evaluation, hybrid ADR services, and any other ADR mechanism for the resolution of disputes.

Inaugurating the inductees, the chief judge of Enugu State, Afojulu Ozoemena, charged them with personal integrity, commitment to impartiality and dedication to continuous learning that would distinguish them as exemplary mediators.

Mr Ozoemena, represented by Justice Reuben Odugu, said their dedication to this cause would ensure that ESMDC achieved its mission of decongesting the courts and offering alternative means of dispute resolution.

“The justice system relies heavily on public confidence, and as mediators, you are ambassadors of trust. Therefore, I encourage you all to see yourselves not only as problem solvers but as peacebuilders in our communities,” Mr Ozoemena advised.

In a remark, the chairman of the ESMDC Governing Council, Justice Priscilla Emehelu Rtd, urged them to see themselves as agents of change that helped individuals navigate their disputes with integrity and respect.

Ms Emehelu, the former chief judge of the state, said that in line with the planned growth trajectory, ESMDC aimed to position itself as the alternative dispute resolution hub of the region that needed collaboration from all parties.

She encouraged them to uphold the values of empathy, patience and impartiality.

Earlier, the director of the courthouse, Caroline Etuk, emphasised the importance of the multi-door courthouse, saying she desired to make the ESMDC hub for dispute resolution in the South-East zone.

She disclosed that 22 persons were inducted as mediators, explaining that one had to be engaged in 40-hour-minimum training with 100 per cent attendance to become a mediator.

Ms Etuk described mediators as the “key assets” of multi-door courthouses as they provided essential services to the Enugu people through intervention in different disputes.

Responding on behalf of other inductees, Maxwell Orah thanked all the stakeholders for their support and promised that they would live up to the people’s expectations and yearnings. 

(NAN)