Nigeria, Feb. 13 -- It was a great time to celebrate excellence and relive old memories on Wednesday when scholars, associates, friends, leaders of civil society organisations, and others converged in honour of the African Director of the MacArthur Foundation, Kole Shettima.

The occasion was an afternoon of tributes attended by academics, politicians, university administrators, technocrats, newspaper editors, associates, family, and mentees of Mr Shettima who clocked 65.

Held in Abuja, the symposium was themed: "Role of Philanthropy in Strengthening Democracy in Africa."

In his remarks, the chairperson of the Organising Committee, YZ Yau, said the event was put together to celebrate the life of Mr Shettima as a selfless patriot who has...