Professor Emilia Onyema receives Africa’s 30 Arbitration Powerlist 2020 Award

17 February 2021

Professor Emilia​ Onyema has been recognised for her contribution to the development of arbitration in Africa in the prestigious Africa's 30 Arbitration Powerlist 2020 Award.

The award celebrates people of influence and recognises the contributions of leading arbitration practitioners from Africa.

Emilia's work in this field includes convening the SOAS Arbitration in Africa conference series, publishing the Arbitration in Africa survey and co-authoring the African Promise, a pledge which aims to improve the profile and representation of African arbitrators. And the appointment of. Africans as international arbitrators especially in arbitrations connected with Africa. Emilia has also published widely on arbitration related issues and sits as an independent international arbitrator.

The award is a new initiative from the Africa Arbitration Academy (AAA) and the Association of Young Arbitrators. In addition to promoting African practitioners, the AAA has been the vanguard of policy reform in Africa. In 2020, it published its Protocol on Virtual Hearings in Africa which is now being adopted by parties, arbitral institutions and African governments when conducting virtual proceedings. ​