Kashim Ibrahim Shettima was born on September 2, 1966 in Maiduguri, Borno state, North East, Nigeria to the family of Sir Kashim Ibrahim. He is married to Nana Shettima, and they have three children.
Kashim Shettima is currently a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and former Governor of Borno State. He is a very intelligent and outspoken politician from the Kanuri tribe.
EDUCATION
▪︎ Lamisula Primary School in Maiduguri from (1972 – 1978)
▪︎ Government Community Secondary School, Biu, Borno State from (1978 – 1980)
▪︎ Government Science Secondary School, Potiskum; now in Yobe State (1980 – 1983)
▪︎ University of Maiduguri – BSc Agricultural Economics (1989)
▪︎ National Youths Service (NYSC) – Defunct Nigerian Agricultural Cooperative Bank, Calabar, Cross River State (1989 – 1990)
▪︎ University of Ibadan, Nigeria –
MSc Agricultural Economics (1991)
EARLY CAREER
Shettima joined the University of Maiduguri as a Lecturer with the Department of Agricultural Economics and was in the academia from 1991 to 1993.
In 1993, he moved to the banking sector.
▪︎ Commercial Bank of Africa Limited Ikeja, Lagos (now defunct) – Head Accounts Unit (1993 – 1997)
▪︎ African International Bank Limited – Deputy Manager and Manager, Kaduna Branc (1997 – 2001)
▪︎ Zenith Bank
Head Main Branch Maiduguri,
Senior Manager/Branch Head, Assistant General Manager (AGM)/Zonal Head (North-East),
Deputy General Manager/Zonal Head (North-East),
General Manager (2001 – 2007)
Shettima left the banking sector in mid-2007 when he was appointed Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Borno State.
He subsequently became Commissioners for Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs, Education, Agriculture and Health (2007 to 2011).
POLITICAL CAREER
In the April 26, 2011 elections, Kashim Shettima was elected Governor of Borno state on the platform of the defunct All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) with 531,147 votes defeating the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Muhammed Goni who polled 450,140 votes. He was sworn into office as Executive Governor of Borno state on May 29, 2011, succeeding Governor Ali Modu Sheriff.
He was re-elected for a second term in 2015 under the All Progressives Congress (APC) and was unambiguously chosen as Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, an umbrella body of Governors in the 19 States of northern Nigeria.
Shettima is generally seen as extremely hospitable to other faith and ethnic groups. During his time as Governor, he had amongst his closest aides, an Igbo Christian from Anambra State South East, an Urhobo Christian from Delta State in the South South, a Christian from Edo State in the South South, a Yoruba Christian from the South West, a Fulani from Gombe in the North East and a Hausa from Zamfara State in the North West Nigeria.
As Governor of Borno State, he efficiently managed challenges arising from the Boko Haram insurgency which he inherited in 2011. With the approval of the National Security Adviser and the Nigerian Army in 2013, his government formalized establishment of youth volunteers called the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF). The volunteers played and continue to play a very significant role in supporting the military in the fight against Boko Haram insurgents.
He led in mobilization of community based intelligence gathering and the provision of hundreds of patrol vehicles and material logistics to the military in particular and to all other security agencies.
In September 2014, Maiduguri, the seat of Government became very vulnerable to being occupied by insurgents. The fear was so intense that notable residents relocated their families to Abuja. However, amidst such fright, Governor Kashim Shettima who was out of the country on an official assignment at the time, returned to Maiduguri in a show of courage and patriotism. On his return, the Governor mobilized residents towards rising up in defense of the state.
Although Maiduguri did not fall, the insurgents succeeded in occupying 20 out of the 27 local government areas of the State before the Nigerian Armed Forces liberated them between 2015 and 2016.
As Governor he coordinated and led the temporary accommodation, rehabilitation and resettlement of victims of the Boko Haram insurgency. With peace building, Governor Kashim Shettima championed Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement of victims. He focused so much attention on expansion and remodeling of existing schools and the building of new boarding primary and junior secondary schools to cater for over 50, 000 unaccompanied orphans whose parents were killed by insurgents across the 27 local government areas of the State.
In 2019, Governor Kashim Shettima identified the current exceptional Governor of Borno state, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum who was equally elected on the platform of the APC. He handed over to him on May 29, 2019; in continuation of the culture of excellence in leadership.
In February, 2019 Kashim Shettima was elected Senator representing Borno Central Senatorial District on the platform of the APC.
RECOGNITION AND AWARDS
Kashim Shettima’s leadership credentials attracted positive recognition within and outside Nigeria including:
▪︎ 2014: Governor of the Year (Leadership Newspapers)
▪︎ 2015: Governor of the Year (Nigeria Union of Journalists NUJ)
▪︎ 2015: Governor of the Year (NewsWatchTimes Newspapers)
▪︎ 2015: Governor of the Year (Vanguard Newspapers)
▪︎ 2016: Governor of the Year (Tell Magazine)
▪︎ 2017: Zik Prize for Leadership
▪︎ 2017: Award for courage and exceptional leadership (Kaduna NUJ)
▪︎ 2017: Merit Award for Exceptional Leadership (FCT NUJ)
Senator Kashim Shettima was on July 10, 2022 announced as the Vice Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2023 Presidential election.
(Adapted By Uche Diala)
