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Rising star continues to shine as Joy Mgbado becomes Africa Co-Chair of Young ITA
The Young ITA has announced its new Board Members, welcoming an outstanding group of young leaders from across the globe. This includes Nigerian lawyer Joy Mgbado as Africa Co-Chair 2025-2027.
Nigerian commercial disputes lawyer Joy Mgbado is excited to work alongside “an exceptional leadership team” for the next two years as she has been named this week among the new 2025-2027 Board Members and Co-Chairs for Young ITA.
The young professionals branch of the Institute of Transnational Arbitration (ITA), a Texas-based global non-profit, the Young ITA yesterday announced its 2025–2027 Co-Chairs, proudly welcoming “an outstanding group of young leaders from across the globe”. Joy Mgbado was named Africa Co-Chair for the 2025-2027 term.
Mgbado and her fellow new Board members join the current 2024-2026 Co-Chairs to help advance Young ITA’s mission to support professional growth, leadership development, and global connection among young arbitration practitioners.
Kenyan commercial lawyer Dr Paul Kimani, the Managing Partner of Paul Andrew Advocates, continues as 2024-2026 Africa Co-Chair. Tunisian lawyer Dhouha Oueslati, who was the first Tunisian selected as an Africa Arbitration Academy Fellow, also continues as one of the Middle East and North African Co-Chairs.
“Joining the leadership team of Young ITA as the Africa Co-Chair (2025-2027) is a responsibility I do not take lightly,” said Mgbado this morning. “I know first-hand how critical the right information and network can be to one’s career growth.”
An associate at leading Nigerian firm ALN Nigeria | Aluko & Oyebode, currently seconded to the in-house legal team of global energy company Chevron, Mgbado first joined Young ITA. She says she was looking to transition into international arbitration, with a goal to access information, events, and trends to build knowledge.
Nowadays, Mgbado has a thriving arbitration career at ALN Nigeria | Aluko & Oyebode, and is significantly involved in the African arbitration space.
Earlier this year Mgbado was named by Legally Yes among “30 Exceptional Female Lawyers making a Difference in Africa”, in celebration of International Women’s Day. Last year she was honoured with a 40 Under 40 Rising Star Award, as one of the young practitioners shaping the future of the legal profession in Nigeria.
“I remain grateful to initiatives like Young ITA for their investment in the growth of young arbitration practitioners,” she says today. “I look forward to contributing to the terrific work already being done by Dr. Paul Kimani and Dhouha Oueslati and exploring additional pathways for Young ITA to support young practitioners in Africa.”