Assessing the Effectiveness of Peacebuilding Strategies in Managing Communal Conflicts Among Ile-Ife and Modakeke Residents Osun State, Nigeria

This study assessed the effectiveness of peacebuilding strategies in managing communal conflicts among Ile-Ife and Modakeke residents Osun State, Nigeria. The study employed explanatory sequential mixed method, while multistage, purposive and simple random sampling techniques were used to sample one-hundred and twenty respondents. Self-designed instrument was used and descriptive statistics were used to analyse the generated data. The study’s results revealed that the respondents’ awareness of peacebuilding strategies ranked mediation (mean = 3.22) as the most recognized approach, followed by arbitration (mean = 2.99), negotiation (mean = 2.78), conciliation (mean = 2.61), and restorative justice (mean = 2.55), indicating the relative awareness and perceived effectiveness of these strategies in addressing communal conflicts among Ile-Ife and Modakeke residents in Osun State, Nigeria. The outcomes of the study revealed that mediation, negotiation, and dialogue are effective peacebuilding strategies for managing communal conflicts, with mediation ranking highest (2.78), followed by negotiation (2.61) and dialogue (2.55), while government interventions and community-led initiatives also showed promise. The study concluded that mediation, arbitration, and negotiation are the most recognized peacebuilding strategies in Ile-Ife and Modakeke, while mediation, negotiation, and dialogue are deemed most effective in managing communal conflicts, with government interventions and community-led efforts also playing a vital role in promoting peace.