Team size: 3

Jurisdictions your role covers: NIGERIA AND REST OF AFRICA

What strategies has your legal team adopted to manage disputes and mitigate risks in Nigeria’s dynamic business environment?

In Nigeria’s dynamic and rapidly evolving business environment, our legal team adopts a proactive, structured and prevention-focused approach to risk management and dispute resolution.

We conduct annual enterprise-wide risk assessments to identify emerging legal and regulatory risks, reassess existing exposures and ensure that mitigation strategies remain aligned with current business operations and regulatory developments.

Early engagement and prevention are central to our framework. We maintain regular dialogue between the legal function and business units, complemented by targeted training for first-line operational teams. These sessions equip teams with practical tools to manage third-party engagements effectively and reduce the likelihood of disputes escalating. To reinforce this approach, we introduced a red-flag escalation system, which triggers early involvement of the legal team once potential legal issues are identified.

In relation to dispute resolution, we follow a structured three-stage process designed to achieve timely and cost-effective outcomes while preserving commercial relationships. The first step involves early clarification discussions with counterparties, through which many matters are resolved. Where issues remain outstanding, they are escalated to senior management-level engagement between the parties. As a final step, and where amicable resolution proves unattainable, we prioritise alternative dispute resolution mechanisms such as mediation or arbitration over litigation, mindful of the procedural delays and uncertainties associated with the Nigerian court system.

This disciplined and forward-looking approach enables the business to manage risk proactively, minimise exposure, preserve key relationships, and maintain operational continuity.

How is your legal department leveraging technology to improve compliance monitoring, contract management or governance reporting?

The legal department leverages technology to strengthen compliance oversight, improve contract management, and enhance governance reporting in a cost-effective manner.

In relation to contract management, we utilise Microsoft Outlook to operate a structured contract renewal alert system, which notifies the team at least three months prior to contract expiry. This facilitates early engagement with relevant business units to assess operational requirements and proactively renegotiate or renew agreements. The approach has eliminated service gaps, supported operational continuity and generated cost efficiencies by avoiding the need for additional contract lifecycle management software.

In the area of compliance and governance, the team has deployed an Automated Rule Book Portal (ARP) and a Regulatory Compliance Monitoring (RCM) tool. The ARP functions as a central repository for applicable laws, regulations and guidelines, ensuring that stakeholders remain informed of regulatory developments. The RCM tool enables structured monitoring, tracking and timely fulfilment of regulatory obligations across the business. The legal team provides oversight to ensure consistent compliance and accurate reporting.

Collectively, these tools have strengthened governance frameworks, enhanced visibility over compliance obligations, and improved overall operational efficiency.