On the morning of 13 February 2021, we woke up to the news of the passing of Professor Gabriel Olawoyin, SAN, member of the Board, ICC Nigeria (ICCN) National Committee; Chairman, ICCN National Committee Commission on Arbitration and ADR; member of the ICC Africa Commission launched in 2018; and past member of the Court of the ICC International Court of Arbitration Paris (2000-2018).

A quintessential gentleman, Professor Olawoyin had lived well, achieved much, surpassing the biblical age of 70 years – yet, his passing was sudden, no indication that all our camaraderie, plans and thoughts on this side of the divide was to end soon, particularly having spoken to him a few days before. His passing again emphasises that at the end of it; our labours, our fears, our achievements, all that matters most on this part of the divide is what we mean to different people; our impact.

Prof, as I fondly call him, meant many things to many people; he was a father, a friend, an encourager, a calmer who had great impact in the arbitration field both domestic and international. I will focus on his impact in the arbitration world. I cannot precisely remember when I first met Prof, particularly as I did not attend the University of Ife, where he lectured for many years. Perhaps, had I attended University of Ife, I would have met Prof earlier and gained even more from his infinite wisdom at an earlier age. However, I do remember one of our earliest interactions was during the first ICC African Regional meeting held in November 2000 in Abuja, Nigeria. Prof, a foremost pioneer member of the Board of the ICCN, was deeply involved in the conference which had as its focus Africa’s greater involvement in global business policy making and international arbitration. Though I had been earlier exposed to the ICC International Court of Arbitration through attendance at PIDA conferences, the conference enlightened me and many others on the vital role of the ICC International Court of Arbitration in the global arbitration arena.

At that time the ICCN National Committee had not constituted its Arbitration and ADR Commission. In the aftermath of that delightful and insightful conference, I visited the ICC website several times and read with keen interest about the work of the ICC Commission on Arbitration in Paris, the unique knowledge think tank, then composed of various national committee members from different countries of the world. I made small jottings, called Prof and said I wanted to see him. After the usual introductory greetings, I started, ‘Prof, the ICC Arbitration Commission Paris is made up of various members from different National Committees all over the world. We need an ICC Nigeria National Committee Arbitration Commission to be able to fully join in the work of the International Arbitration Community. Prof readily agreed with me and said, ‘DRV, I will table it before the ICC Board and we will do something about it’.

The first meeting of the Commission took place in Prof’s office on the 26 November 2010 and thus the ICCN National Committee Commission on Arbitration and ADR was birthed. Prof’s commitment and leadership with the support of ICCN National Committee under the then leadership of ICCN Board, Emeritus Chairman, Chief Olusegun Osunkeye, CON and current Chairman Mr Babatunde Savage, FCA, has not only birthed the ICCN National Committee Commission on Arbitration and ADR but has also skillfully and maturely steered the affairs of the commission for the past 11 years.

I was privileged to have Prof appear before me as Counsel in an arbitration I chaired in 2018 as a sole arbitrator. Prof conducted himself in the best tradition of the arbitration plane – courteous and respectful to the tribunal, courteous to his opposing counsel, with no importation of litigation antics.

Prof was a brilliant man. In his year at the Nigerian Law School (1974-1975 set) he emerged as the candidate with the best overall performance winning three out of the four prizes awarded by the Nigerian Law School.

Prof meant many things to different people. Since his demise, tributes have poured in; father, mentor ... many have credited their entry into the arbitration field to him. Prof provided ‘shade, environment and encouragement’ to many, he created an ‘open door policy and was a man of integrity’. Indeed, Prof has left his indelible footprints on the sands of time."

As the ICC arbitration community bids him adieu, we extend our condolences to his family including his widow and his son, Dr Wale Olawoyin, SAN, CArb, an active member of the arbitration community in Nigeria and the President of the Lagos Court of Arbitration.

Fare thee well Prof.