Leading voices in the Nigeria Civil Society community, drawn from various fields; media, academic and non-governmental organisations, have commended the MacArthur Foundation Director in Nigeria, Kole Shettima for media development in Nigeria.
The speakers, including policy advocate, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, Media Entrepreneur, Simon Kolawole, Television Host, Kadaria Ahmed, and others who spoke on Shettima reeled out beautiful attributes and listed other various ways through which Shettima used MacArthur Foundation to impact individuals and NGOs in Nigeria to promote transparency and credibility in governance.
Media Entrepreneur and Publisher of The Cable Online, Simon Kolawole, though commended Shettima’s contribution to advance of press freedom and media development, he made a quick reference to the various leadership qualities in Shetima which all leaders who wish to succeed must imbibe.
Kolawole said, “Beyond Shettima’s contribution to society growth, especially his commitment to training journalists in the area of investigative reporting and provision of equipment and tools for the media, one more thing I have found very exciting about Shettima is his simplicity. He has a listening here, he operates an open door policy -no fence around him and he picks calls and replies messages promptly. These are attributes I think all leaders who want to govern well and succeed should emulate.”
According to the founder of Akin Fadeyi Foundation (AFF) organiser of the event, ‘the Impact Series with Kole Shettima’ was put together not only to celebrate the anti-corruption investor but to create a forum for members of the civil society community to engage, evaluate and give advice where necessary on good governance and fight against corruption. Fadeyi described Shettima as one change agent who lives and wakes with a thought on how to better Nigeria.
Erelu Fayemi, who described Shettima as a brother and friend who has done a lot to lift Nigeria and make leaders accountable, commended Akin Fadeyi Foundation for organising the impact series in honour of Shettima, while he’s still alive and charged all the guests on the platform to begin thinking of how best to celebrate their loved ones and leaders while they are alive.
“Today is special for me because we all gather on this platform to speak about one man who has done a lot to change our country’s narrative. Shettima is one man who has created a way to make Nigerian leaders accountable despite the challenges associated with such endeavour.” Erelu Fayemi said.
Reacting to the tributes in his honour, Shettima commended the organisers and appreciated all for their generous humbling contributions.
He also applauded the contributions of his team members for the impact he has made, adding that without their support he couldn’t have done it alone.
