SPEECH DELIVERED BY THE OUTGOING CHAIRMAN, BARRISTER ADEYEMI OPAKUNLE, AT THE HANDOVER CEREMONY OF THE NEWLY ELECTED OFFICERS OF THE INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED MEDIATORS AND CONCILIATORS (ICMC), IBADAN BRANCH ON 10TH JULY, 2026
Your Honour, the Honourable Attorney General of Oyo State and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Abiodun Ayodeji Aikomo,
Your Excellency,
-
Our National Officer and Representative of the President, ICMC,
-
our Court Registrars and Magistrates here present,
-
the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Oluwabunmi Are,
-
the pioneer Chairman of Ibadan Branch, our Patron and Chairman of the 2026 Electoral Committee, Chief Adetoye Adeniran FICMC,
-
our former Chairman and Patron of Ibadan Branch and a member of the 2026 Electoral Committee, Comrade Olu Abiala FICMC,
-
our other Patrons and past leaders here present, more importantly, Mr. Tunji Thomas,
-
the other member of the 2026 Electoral Committee, Mr. N. Abiodun Abiola, and the Secretary, 2026 Electoral Committee, Miss Oluwakemi E. Ogunsade,
-
all members of Ibadan Branch and especially, the contestants in today’s Election,
-
all our friends, especially, the reporters of today’s event and all our well-wishers,
I say welcome to you all.
Today’s programme is an epoch-making event in the history of ICMC, Ibadan Branch. I congratulate my executive members, myself, and everyone who has made today’s event a success.
I give all glory and honour to the Almighty God who made today a possibility for us all. He has done great things for which we will ever be grateful to Him. I say Thank You, Lord.
This outgoing Executive led by me was inaugurated by the immediate Past President of the Institute, His Excellency, Dr. Agada Elachi, SAN, FICMC, FCIArB, sometime in late August, 2022. It was an assignment I never prepared for, but by providence, I found myself in the position of the Chairman of Ibadan Branch of this great Institute. Unfortunately, the terrain was so rough, very much slippery, and demanded much wisdom and patience. There was a series of discordant songs flipping about prior to our election then, even among our leaders. However, we started well and we got coordinated. Executive meetings were held regularly and a new course was mapped out so as to push the Branch forward. Part of our proposed programme of activities was to secure an office accommodation for the Branch, to embark on wide and aggressive publicity of the Institute and training of students and staff of all higher institutions in Oyo State, visits to media houses, market places and leaders, motor parks, companies, and industries to introduce ICMC trainings and encourage them to embrace mediation and conciliation in dispute resolution as the only true alternative to litigation. The Branch was to organise Dispute Resolution centres where disputes could be resolved with speed and at very minimal cost. However, our ambition was short-lived.
I attended the 2022 Annual General Meeting and the National Conference on 25th and 26th November, 2022, only to return to Ibadan sometime in the second week of December, 2022 to be involved in a very serious accident that nearly claimed my two legs. I was homed for a complete one year and eight months. It is on record that throughout the whole period, no meeting was held by my executive despite my plea that the rest of the members should carry on. It is also on record that on the day of our election, while I was on my way to the election venue, a car ran into my car and caused very serious damage to my car to the extent that my car was with the repairers for nearly three months. Yet, that day, I abandoned my car at the election venue leaving my engineer to sort things out because the planning then rested on me as the 2nd Vice-Chairman. Also, returning to Ibadan on November 30th, 2024 after the AGM and National Conference in Abuja, I fell critically sick so that I was continually on hospital admission till June, 2025.
However, we return all glory to God that He made me overcome all challenges, though not without a serious impact on our activities and running of the Branch. Many of the mapped-out programmes could not be implemented; trainings were highly affected, and members’ welfare suffered much. Also, payments of dues were not made, even by many of the Executive members. Two members of the Executive never attended any meeting, while a member would only join the meeting occasionally at will to cause chaos and disruptions, especially during virtual meetings. However, I need to appreciate the efforts and commitment of my Vice-Chairperson, Dr. Ijeoma S. Ladele, and the Secretary-General, Dr. Lanre Yusuf. The two were very supportive until their personal life engagements took them out of Ibadan. I also want to appreciate Mrs. Dupe Awosemusi, who accepted my request to be dragged in as a CO-OPTED Executive member and functioned as the Assistant Secretary-General. May God bless you all and support your endeavours.
As unsavoury as the above brief might seem, it needs to be told so that the incoming Chairman and his team may understand that it is not everyone who seeks a post who is ready to serve. Some only intend to boost their own image, increase their credentials running on the goodwill of others, or seek financial rewards. In your own case, I advise you to be prepared to give it all it takes and seek ye first to diligently serve the ICMC, Ibadan Branch, and all other things will be added. Remember, God Himself rewards diligent servants who will later stand before kings and not mean men. The type of election we have today is as a result of determination to succeed. Mr. Chairman, please, have your own mind, be focused, respect others’ opinions, and consult experienced and reasonable leaders who will give you unbiased and disinterested pieces of advice, and God will help you to succeed.
OUR SUCCESS STORY
ACCOMMODATION AND FURNISHING OF THE BRANCH OFFICE – When I was still at home following the 2022 accident, we embarked on the Office and Chair projects for the office. My Vice and I had secured for the Branch an office at Ikeolu Shopping Complex, opposite U.I. 2nd Gate through Mr. Tunji Thomas, who had initially offered his personal office for the use of the Branch for many years. The initial rent paid, the renovation, and the electrification were all done by the Vice-Chairperson and myself from our personal purses. The third-year rent was to be paid from the purse, but we could not access the account or pay the increased rent, and so we gave out the office, largely because we felt it was a waste since it was not being utilised and because many felt the place was not befitting for the image of the Branch.
However, personal contacts and efforts yielded the donation of eight (8) executive plastic chairs—6 from Chief Adetoye Adeniran and 2 from my humble self. A pledge of One Hundred Thousand Naira to the project was made by Prof. Isaac Olawale Albert, and an undisclosed amount promised by our former Chairman and now the P.J. Oyo State Customary Court of Appeal, my lord, Honourable Justice T. M. Abdulganiyu. I also have a piece of good news for you, Mr. Chairman: I have been having discussions with Dr. Akin Fagbemi, the immediate past Chairman of the Hospital Management Board, and he has again given me his word in our online meeting two days ago that he would secure an office accommodation for the Branch. I am praying God will continue to back him up in his life endeavours. We need to follow this up.
TRAINING – We planned to have trainings solely organized by the Branch, but due to the already analyzed issues, this was not possible. However, we had one and a half, or so, trainings organized with one of our national leaders. These, however, did not give the needed recognition and dividend to the Branch. I have personally arranged with the National Headquarters, and Ambassador Victor A.A. Ojaide is handy to give the Branch all the needed support to organise trainings at various levels whenever we are ready. My lord has also promised to ensure that other judges of his Court who are yet to receive ICMC training are enlisted as fellows of the Institute. This will be done with other judges of the High Court in Oyo State. Our High Court Registrars and magistrates too deserve to be officially trained as mediators and conciliators. I am sure the new Chairman and his team will follow these up at the judiciary level and carry them through. My new Chairman, we must now explore every available opportunity to embark on training and retraining of members. With this very strong team consisting of people who are willing and ready to serve, the sky cannot even limit you.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION – Sometime in 2024, this Executive felt the need to honour some of our members who were highly revered for their contributions to the Branch. This was targeted towards encouraging them to do more. Seven (7) prominent people were selected and honoured as our Patrons. These were: i. Chief Adeniran Adetoye – The Branch Pioneer Chairman, ii. Honourable Justice T. M. Abdulganiyu – a former Branch Chairman, iii. Honourable Justice (Prof) Alero Akeredolu, PhD – a very consistent, reliable Branch member and leader, iv. Prof. Isaac Olawale Albert – a very consistent Branch member, leader, and National contributor, v. Comrade Olu Abiala – a former Branch Chairman, vi. His Excellency, Chief Alake Adeyemo – former Deputy Governor of Oyo State and devoted Branch member, and vii. Rev’d Phillip Alakhume – a former Vice-Chairman and respected Branch representative at National programmes.
Their Inauguration Ceremony took place at the Oyo State Mediation Centre, Ministry of Justice, Ibadan on Friday, 26th January, 2024. We later paid individual visits to them.
Mr. Chairman, I must tell you that I have enjoyed the overwhelming support of some of these leaders in all our programmes, especially Chief Adeniran Adetoye, Comrade Olu Abiala, and Rev’d Alakhume. Their fatherly roles and leadership style have encouraged me and given us the grace to achieve the little we could. God Himself will pray for you and back you up till your final end. Your children will never lack support and necessary backing in life. We cannot and must not overlook the ready-made assistance and selfless services of Mr. Tunji Thomas to this Branch. Oga, your work will receive a boost in Jesus’ mighty name.
Pending Appreciation – Mr. Chairman Sir, I want to commend the Honourable Attorney-General of Oyo State to Your Excellency. You are a lawyer and you have been a regular visitor to the Ministry of Justice. I am sure you have noticed the great improvement he has brought to the physical environment of this Ministry. With respect to the Ibadan Branch of ICMC, the Honourable Attorney-General has been one of our major pillars of support since he assumed office. I did not know him from Adam, and he came in after I had left the Ministry, but since the day I met him to discuss ICMC with him, he has taken serious interest in the Branch and he has been giving us support in all our programmes without any strings attached.
We had free use of the Mediation Centre for the Inauguration Ceremony of our Patrons, and today, we are here again, free of charge. In fact, we are the first set of people to be allowed the use of this Library Conference Room after renovation. I have never had the need to see him before he would give express approval to my requests. He has also promised me to do his best to train more officers of the Ministry in our Institute. Mr. Chairman Sir, the HAG deserves our Branch as well as National honours of this Institute. Your Honour, thank you so very much. A higher space and place await you. Such honours I humbly recommend for the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, and Mr. Tunji Thomas.
ATTENDANCE AT THE NATIONAL CONFERENCES – During my nearly four-year tenure, I attended two AGMs and conferences. I attended in 2022 with Rev’d Phillip Alakhume and in 2024 with a sizeable number of inductees. But for the last-minute deception by someone we respected so much, almost all the 20 trained members would have been in Abuja with us. Mr. Chairman Sir, make attendance at the AGM by you and the Conference by all members a priority this year, especially the newly trained members. God will help you, Sir. There was a time the Ibadan Branch used to be the doyen of all other branches with its carnivals at the National Conference; this should be resuscitated with support from our past leaders.
BRANCH ELECTION – Anyone who has been conversant with the Branch will agree with me that we have never had an election of this kind. People were either begged to come and serve or hand-picked. Sometime ago, I set up a group, the Reformation Team, to scout for members who are truly interested in the activities of the ICMC so that an election could be organised by December 2025. This was not possible. But I had never thought things could suddenly change for the better like this. We thank God for the wisdom and the grace. We are today having a keen contest by people who have the desire to see improvement and activities in the Branch. Payments of both National and Branch dues have seriously improved, not only from those willing to contest, but also by members who desire no personal returns from this election. You are the champions, and I sincerely hope that you will sustain and increase the tempo. You will not regret your contributions to this success. We will all succeed together. My Chairman, welcome; the fact is that the ball is in your court.
MEMBERSHIP DRIVE – I had for a very long time been preaching the gospel of ICMC to members and non-members. Today, our attitude is beginning to change positively. My complaints have reached the National Headquarters about service providers who come to this jurisdiction to train our people without our involvement and notification. They suck them dry, do the training, and leave the trained ones to themselves without handing them over to the Branch for discipleship. This must end, and this new Executive must work seriously to end it until the desired goal is achieved.
BRANCH FINANCE – I have great joy and confidence, and I am made bold to inform this gathering, that my Administration has not spent a kobo from the Branch money or made any withdrawal from the Branch Account. We have spent whatever we spent from our own individual purses. In fact, the Branch is owing some of my Executive members and me. The incoming Executive will audit the account and report back to Your Excellencies.
Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, I have taken so much of your time; however, it is worth it. I want to thank you all for turning up to exercise your rights and duties of choosing your own representatives. I still want to pray that you give them the necessary support that will make the team succeed. To me, this final success is a great one. I desire that it continues. A success is not a success until the successor succeeds. You will record unprecedented success in Jesus’ name. By this time in three years, when you are handing over, it will be with fanfare and great joy. This is my desire.
While I wish this Executive a happy and trouble-free tenure, I wish our Branch Slogan will be:
ICMC, IBADAN, DAILY GROWING GREATER AND HIGHER!
Once again, thank you all.
Adeyemi Opakule Esq. Branch Chairman, (Aug. 2022 – July 2026)