AYA is an association of young arbitrators in Africa, under the age of 40, founded by Abayomi Okubote, who was inspired after his UK secondment by ILFA, and started with other young practitioners sharing a passion for arbitration. AYA is open to junior - senior arbitration practitioners having professional links to Nigeria and organizes events and programs to develop young arbitrators and give them a face in the arbitration space. The idea of the association stemmed from the realisation that arbitration in Africa is perceived as a “closed shop” specially made and open to senior practitioners, thus difficult for young practitioners to fully benefit from them. AYA brings a new dimension to the arbitration community and showcases young talents in Africa. It provides an avenue for senior practitioners to mentor the younger generation, networking opportunities with leading international practitioners, and steady progress along the learning curve.