Christopher Afoke Isike, PhD, is a Professor of African Politics and International Relations in the Department of Political Sciences, University of Pretoria and Director of the African Centre for the Study of the United States, University of Pretoria (ACSUS-UP), South Africa. He is also the current President of the African Association of Political Science (AAPS), and member of the Board of Directors of Global Development Network (GDN). Professor Isike conducts research from an Africanist lens, and teaches international relations theory, strategic and security studies, and security theory at the University of Pretoria. His research interests include African soft power politics, women, peace and conflict studies, women and political representation in Africa, rethinking state formation in Africa, politics in a digital era and African immigration to South Africa. A C2 rated researcher by the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa, Prof Isike has over 60 publications in top national and international peer-reviewed journals including chapters in books published by reputable publishing houses globally. He is Editor-in-Chief of Africa’s foremost political science journal, Politikon: South African Journal of Political Studies (2020 to 2024), and has been Editor of Ubuntu: Journal of Conflict and Social Transformation since 2017. He also serves on the editorial board of several reputable international journals, such as International Political Science Abstracts.Prof Isike consults for the UNFPA, UNICEF, UN Women and the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government on gender equality and women empowerment issues in South Africa. He was recently appointed by the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture as a Social Cohesion Advocate of South Africa from 2020 – 2024. Prof. Nkechika Ibe is currently a Tsuha Global Fellow at The University of Western Australia. She is a graduate of Political Science from Madonna University and hold a master’s degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from University of Nigeria Nsukka. She completed a diploma course in International Security from the European Academy of Diplomacy under the Academy of Young Diplomats program in Warsaw Poland. She has completed different certification courses from reputable institutions such as the United Nations Institute of Training and Research (UNITAR), Peace Operations Training Institute (POTI) and so on. She is also the founder of Impact Her World Foundation, a not-for-profit organization focused on promoting the interest and wellbeing of women and girls. She also founded Women in Security, Peace, and Diplomacy Network (WISPAD) Nigeria. Nkechika is a member of Women in International Security (WIIS Global) and Harvard Women in Defense, Diplomacy and Development (Harvard W3D).