Professor Elias Nankap Lamle is a Professor of Social and Cultural Anthropology, Peace and Conflict Studies. A distinguished Nigerian scholar, social and cultural anthropologist, and internationally recognized expert in peace, conflict, and security studies. He holds a PhD in Anthropology with specialization in Conflict Management and Peace Studies from KU Leuven (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven), Belgium, following a Master's degree in Anthropology (Cum Laude) from the same institution. He also earned a Master of Arts and Bachelor of Arts in Christian Religious Studies from institutions in Nigeria.

His academic career spans over three decades of teaching, research, policy engagement, and postgraduate supervision. As Professor at the Centre for Conflict Management and Peace Studies, University of Jos, he has contributed significantly to advancing scholarship on conflict transformation, peacebuilding, cultural anthropology, climate-related conflicts, pastoralism, terrorism, community security, and indigenous approaches to conflict resolution.

Professor Lamle's research explores the intersections of identity, culture, religion, migration, governance, and violence, with particular focus on Africa. His pioneering work on joking relationships, indigenous institutions, and traditional peace mechanisms has broadened understanding of African conflict resolution systems. His widely recognized article, "Re-conceptualising the Clan Structure and Migration Pattern of the Tarok People," published in International Migration, remains an important contribution to migration studies and African anthropology.

An active international researcher, Professor Lamle has received prestigious scholarly awards and research fellowships. He was a recipient of support from the Ford Foundation and Florida International University's Latin American and Caribbean Centre, and participated in academic exchange programmes at the University of Amsterdam. He also conducted Swiss Science Foundation-supported research examining the gender dimensions of armed conflict, violence, and peacebuilding in Jos and Warri, Nigeria. Additionally, he served as Lead Researcher in the British Council–DFID study on conflict dynamics in Northern Nigeria.

Professor Lamle has authored and edited numerous books and scholarly publications on democracy, human rights, peacebuilding, conflict analysis, religion, identity politics, and cultural studies. His books have reached international audiences through major academic publishers in Europe and Africa, with several translated into multiple languages. His scholarship is characterized by a commitment to developing African-centred frameworks for peacebuilding, drawing on indigenous philosophies such as Ubuntu, Gacaca, and community-based reconciliation traditions.

Beyond research, Professor Lamle has demonstrated exceptional leadership in curriculum development, postgraduate education, and academic administration. He has coordinated postgraduate programmes, chaired curriculum review committees, and supervised a substantial number of master's and doctoral dissertations covering topics such as terrorism, climate change, community policing, gender studies, peace education, interfaith dialogue, and farmer-herder relations. His mentorship has contributed to the development of a new generation of scholars and practitioners in peace and conflict studies.

His expertise is regularly sought by government institutions, international organizations, civil society groups, faith-based organizations, and the media. He has served as consultant, policy adviser, trainer, and public commentator on issues related to conflict prevention, peacebuilding, human security, governance, and social cohesion.

Professor Lamle is affiliated with several international professional associations, including the American Anthropological Association, the National Association for the Practice of Anthropology, Consumer Anthropology, Media Anthropology, and the Urban Anthropology Group, Belgium. These engagements reflect his commitment to interdisciplinary scholarship and global academic collaboration. Professor Elias also worn the role of the Lead Researcher from the international institute for social development in Canada in relationship to the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Environmental Abuja. As the Lead Researcher, he leads a team on mainstreaming peace building into environmental conflict in Nigeria.

Research Interests

• Social and Cultural Anthropology
• Peace and Conflict Studies
• Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding
• Climate Change and Human Security
• Farmer–Herder Relations and Pastoral Conflicts
• Religion, Identity, and Violence
• Gender and Peacebuilding
• Indigenous Conflict Resolution Mechanisms
• Counterterrorism and Security Studies
• Migration, Ethnicity, and Community Relations
• African Traditional Systems of Governance and Reconciliation

Selected Areas of Expertise

• Conflict Analysis and Early Warning Systems
• Community Security and Peacebuilding
• African Indigenous Peace Philosophies
• Peace Education and Conflict Resolution
• Human Rights and Democratic Governance
• Gender, Conflict, and Development
• Cultural Heritage, Identity, and Social Change
• Security Sector and Counterinsurgency Studies

Academic Impact

Professor Lamle's scholarship combines rigorous anthropological inquiry with policy relevance and practical peacebuilding applications. His work has informed academic debates, public policy discussions, and field-based interventions across Africa, particularly in contexts affected by identity conflicts, communal violence, religious tensions, and environmental pressures. Through research, teaching, and public engagement, he continues to contribute significantly to the advancement of sustainable peace, social justice, and inclusive development.