One of the most important freedom fighters in African history, Nelson Mandela, died on Thursday at the age of 95 following a long illness. 

Mandela was an anti-apartheid revolutionary as well as the first black president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He spent the majority of his life fighting poverty and inequality.

In 1962, Mandela was arrested and charged with sabotage and conspiracy to overthrow the government. After spending 27 years in several prisons, he was released in 1990 after an international campaign called “Free Nelson Mandela”.

“I was shocked and deeply saddened to hear about Mandela’s death,” said Walter Suza, lecturer of agronomy.

Suza said he was in high school when Mandela was released.

“As a Tanzanian, I definitely noticed the impact it had at that time, but today I can appreciate his legacy more,” Suza said.

Others like Chukwudike C-Madu, sophomore in electrical engineering and president of the African Student Association, see Mandela’s life and work as a template.

“Nelson Mandela’s life is proof that there is good in every human being regardless of how far we may have strayed or how we begun our journey in life,” C-Madu said.

C-Madu said Mandela, who received more than 250 honors including the Nobel Peace Prize, was not just a beacon of inspiration and perseverance in the face of adversity for the people of South Africa or black people alone.

“He was and still is a symbol of hope to all facing oppression regardless of race, faith or orientation,” C-Madu said.

Michael Munywoki, graduate in mathematics, said Mandela might be dead, but his legacy will still live on.

“I wish the other African leaders would borrow something from Nelson Mandela’s life,” Munywoki said.