The Mediation Training Institute (MTI-Nigeria) has warned Nigerians against enrolling in unregistered organisations offering Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) training, saying many of them operate illegally and issue certificates without legal or professional value.

President of the institute, Segun Ogunyannwo, in a statement, cautioned individuals and corporate bodies to verify the accreditation status of any mediation or ADR training centre before registering.

He stressed that only institutions approved by the Centre for Management Development (CMD), the regulatory agency for professional training and consultancy in Nigeria, are legally qua’ified to conduct such programmes.

Ogunyannwo explained that certificates obtained from unaccredited institutions are invalid and may not be recognised locally or internationally.

“It has come to our notice that a number of organisations within the ADR space are operating illegally. They are not registered with the Centre for Management Development (CMD),” he said.

“Any organisation conducting mediation or other ADR training in Nigeria without CMD registration is operating illegally, regardless of its name.”

He further noted that any organisation claiming to be “chartered” without an Act of the National Assembly and Presidential Assent is misleading the public.

“It is therefore imperative that before registering for any professional training or accreditation course, you confirm the organisation’s registration with CMD. Otherwise, you may end up with certificates that cannot be uploaded or recognised anywhere — certificates that may not be worth more than the paper they are printed on,” Ogunyannwo warned.

Citing the National Council for Management Development (NCMD) Act 2022, he emphasised that all individuals and organisations providing training or consultancy services in Nigeria must be registered with CMD before commencing operations.

He urged ADR training providers yet to comply with the requirement to do so immediately to avoid legal sanctions and to ensure the credibility of their programmes.

“The Mediation Training Institute (MTI-Nigeria) is duly registered with the CMD. The message is simple — if you are not registered with CMD, you are not qualified to train, certify or induct mediators and other ADR practitioners in Nigeria,” Ogunyannwo added. (Saturday Guardian)