Abstract

African scholars and experts have developed several methods and strategies of conflict management and peace-building, they have not been widely popularized as role models. Thus, researchers and practitioners have to fall back on theoretical frameworks and methodologies propounded in Europe and Asia in building peace in Africa. This has created problem of intellectual poverty for the continent. This paper, therefore, aims at promoting four Africans, who have distinguished themselves in peace-building to serve as role models. The characters are Anwar Sadat, Nelson Mandela, Harold Dappa-Biriye, and Yakubu Gowon. The paper adopts post-behavioural theoretical framework and applied purposive sampling technique, and finds that the efficacy of the methods of the characters have built confidential relationship among the people and parties. In the process, they have narrowed-down the gulf between theory and practice in peace-building in Africa. It concludes that the methodologies and strategies they applied become standard in peace-building for the benefit of humanity. The paper then recommends making the characters role models in peace-building and security studies as is done in other disciplines.

Key words: Role model, peace and peace-building, security and conflict management.