Who is Kashim Shettima?
Kashim Shettima is a Nigerian politician, banker and senator. Kashim Shettima has served as a senator representing Borno Central since 2019. He was also a former two-term governor of Borno State from 2011 to 2019.
Kashim Shettima is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He has gained more popularity after he was announced as the party’s vice-presidential candidate and the running mate of Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the coming 2023 presidential elections.
Kashim Shettima’s full name is Kashim Ibrahim Shettima. He was born on September 2, 1966, in Maiduguri, Borno State, the Northern Eastern part of Nigeria. He is 55 years old as of July 2022. Kashim Shettima is a native of Nimeri Korongoso, Lamisula, in Shehuri North, Maiduguri, Borno State. He is the son of Sir Shettima Kashim Ibrahim, a Kanuri man from Maiduguri who served as the head of the native administration in Borno State and was also a minister for social services in the 1950s. Kashim’s father, Sir Shettima Kashim Ibrahim passed away on July 25, 1990, in Maiduguri, Borno State at the age of 80.
Kashim Shettima’s educational qualifications
Kashim Shettima had his primary education in Lamisula Primary School, Maiduguri, Borno State between 1972 and 1978. He had his secondary education in 1978 at Government Community Secondary School, Biu town, Borno State where he obtained his West African School Certificate (WASC). Shettima also enrolled in Government Science Secondary School, Potiskum, Yobe State between 1980 and 1983. After his secondary education, he attended the University of Maiduguri in 1989 where he studied Agricultural Economics and graduated with a Second Class Upper Division.
Right after his tertiary education, he had his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) service at the defunct Nigerian Agricultural Cooperative Bank from 1989 to 1990 in Calabar, Cross River State. After his service year, Shettima proceeded to the University of Ibadan (UI) in 1991 for his Master’s degree program in Agricultural Economics. After obtaining his Master’s degree, Shettima became a lecturer at the Department of Agricultural Economics in his alma mater, the University of Maiduguri in 1993.
Kashim Shettima’s marriage and wedding
As of the time of publishing this article, Kashim Shettima is happily married to his wife, Hajia Nana Shettima and their union is blessed with three children – two girls and a boy.
About Kashim Shettima’s wife – Hajia Nana Shettima
Hajia Nana Shettima is Kashim Shettima’s legally wedded wife. She graduated from the University of Maiduguri with a Bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literature in 1998. She is also a philanthropist and has partnered with many organizations to show love and support to both widows and orphans.
Kashim Shettima’s wiki profile
| Full Name | Kashim Ibrahim Shettima |
| Date of Birth | September 2, 1966 |
| Age | 55 years old |
| State of Origin | Borno State, Nigeria |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Religion | Muslim |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Wife | Hajia Nana Shettima |
| Party | All Progressives Congress (APC) |
Kashim Shettima’s banking career
In 1993, the same year he became a lecturer at the University of Maiduguri, Shettima moved into the banking sector and was fully employed by the then-Commercial Bank of Africa Limited as the head of accounts unit in Ikeja, Lagos State. He served the role for four years. In 1997, he landed a role in African International Bank Limited, Kaduna Branch, as the deputy manager. He later became a manager of the same institution in 2001. In 2001, still in the banking sector, Shettima moved to Zenith Bank and became the head of the bank’s main branch in Maiduguri.
While in Zenith Bank, he was promoted to Senior/Branch Head; Assistant General Manager (AGM)/Zonal Head (North East), and Deputy General Manager/Zonal Head (North East) before stepping down in 2007 after he was appointed as Commissioner for Finance in Borno State. Shettima has also served as commissioner of the ministries of Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs, Education, and Agriculture in the state. He also became the Commissioner for Health under his predecessor Governor Ali Modu Sheriff.
How Kashim Shettima started his political career
In 2007, after stepping down from his position in Zenith Bank, Shettima served as a commissioner in five ministries. In the January 2011 ANPP primaries, late Engineer Modu Fannami Gubio was selected as a candidate for the gubernatorial election. Unfortunately, he was shot dead by unknown gunmen and after his demise, Shettima was selected in the second primary election in February 2011. In the 2011 general elections, Shettima emerged the winner of the gubernatorial election under the platform of the now-defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) with 531,147 votes while the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Muhammed Goni, gained 450,140 votes.
In 2015, Shettima won re-election under the All Progressives Congress (APC) and was later appointed as the Chairman of the Northern States Governor’s Forum. In 2019, he emerged the winner of the Borno Central Senatorial District election, and in July 2022, he was announced as the Vice-Presidential candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 general election to run alongside his principal, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Kashim Shettima and Bola Tinubu’s relationship
Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a Nigerian accountant, politician and former governor of Lagos State. Tinubu is the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He was born on March 29, 1953, in Lagos, Nigeria, and is 70 years old as of July 2022, according to reports.
On July 10, 2022, Tinubu announced Kashim Shettima as his running mate for the 2023 general elections. The announcement came hours after Tinubu met with President Muhammadu Buhari alongside Kastina State Governor, Aminu Masari. It was reported that Kabir Ibrahim Masari, a well-known politician from Katsina State, had served as the vice-presidential placeholder of the party to meet the INEC deadline. Kashim Shettima was announced as the party’s true vice-presidential candidate after Ibrahim Masari stepped down.
Tinubu and Shettima’s Muslim-Muslim ticket controversy
Tinubu’s choice of Kashim Shettima as running mate has sparked some outrage among Nigerians as both persons are Muslims. Many individuals and groups including the Christain Association of Nigeria (CAN) have criticized the APC’s choice of a Muslim-Muslim ticket. Many commenters have opined that a Muslim-Muslim ticket could prove disruptive to Nigeria’s unity.
Kashim Shettima and Boko Haram
Since his unveiling as the Vice-Presidential candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC), multiple reports have emerged linking Kashim Shettima with the dreaded terrorist group Boko Haram. According to reports, Shettima allegedly harboured the masterminds of the 2011 Christmas Day bombing of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Kabiru, Sokoto which claimed 40 lives. It was also alleged that Shettima sympathized with the Boko Haram group for contributing to his emergence as the Governor of Borno State after the death of Modu Fannami Gubio who was reportedly shot dead by gunmen.
However, Nigerian senator and human rights activist, Shehu Sani has defended Kashim Shettima and faulted those linking him to the Boko Haram group. As of the time of publishing this article, Kashim Shettima has not addressed or clarified these reports about his involvement with Boko Haram.
