KWASU Hosts Sulh Summit To Operationalise Islamic Dispute Resolution Under AMA 2023

The Department of Islamic Law, Faculty of Law, Kwara State University, KWASU, in collaboration with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Arbitration Centre, OIC-AC, and the Kwara State Shariah Court of Appeal, has hosted a Sulh Summit to deliberate on operationalising Sulh as an Islamic alternative to Western dispute resolution.

The summit, held at the Mini Convocation Arena of the University on Monday, July 20, 2026, had as its theme: "Towards Harmonised Classical Islamic Jurisprudence and Statute: Operationalising Sulh under the Arbitration and Mediation Act, AMA 2023."

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Shaykh-Luqman Jimoh, who was represented by the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Professor Abdus-Sami'i Imam Arikewuyo, underscored the importance of research into practical solutions that can strengthen the justice system in Nigeria.

He added that the Islamic model of amicable dispute resolution offers a restorative approach to resolving conflicts, expressing confidence that the summit would provide solutions that would bridge the gap between theory and practice.

The Chairman of the occasion and Grand Khadi of the Kwara State Shariah Court of Appeal, Justice Abdullateef Kamaldeen, traced the Qur'anic and Prophetic foundations of Sulh, describing it as the preferred method of dispute resolution in Islamic law.

The Grand Khadi explained that the principles of Sulh align with the provisions of Nigeria's Arbitration and Mediation Act 2023. He highlighted recent reforms by the Kwara State Shariah Court of Appeal, including the establishment of a Sulh Desk to prioritise reconciliation in family, inheritance, and other civil disputes.

In the keynote address, the Secretary-General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Arbitration Centre, Dr. Umar Oseni, examined the historical evolution, legal foundations, and future prospects of Sulh in Nigeria. He noted that Sulh is firmly supported by the Qur'an and Sunnah, constitutionally recognised under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and further strengthened by the Arbitration and Mediation Act 2023.

Earlier in her welcome address, the Coordinator of the Department of Islamic Law, Dr. Aisha Abdulquadir Zubair, described the summit as timely. She noted that Nigeria requires a robust dispute resolution framework to support economic growth and social stability.

Dr. Zubair expressed optimism that the discussions would deepen understanding of Sulh and encourage its wider adoption within Nigeria's legal system.