KWASU Hosts Sulh Summit

The Department of Islamic Law, Faculty of Law, in collaboration with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Arbitration Centre (OIC-AC) and the Kwara State Shariah Court of Appeal hosted a Suhl summit to deliberate on operationalising Sulh, the Islamic alternative to western dispute resolution.

The summit, which was held at the Mini Convocation Arena of the University on Monday, July 20, 2026 has as theme, “Towards Harmonised Classical Islamic Jurisprudence and Statute: Operationalising Sulh under the Arbitration and Mediation Act (AMA) 2023.”

In his remarks, 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 will 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, highlighting recent reforms by the Kwara State Shariah Court of Appeal such as 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, noting that Sulh is firmly supported by the Qur’an and Sunnah, and constitutionally recognised under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and further strengthened by the Arbitration and Mediation Act 2023.

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

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