Who Is Senator Kashim Shettima, Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Running Mate?

Senator Kashim Shettima Mustapha (born on September 2, 1966) is a 57 year old banker and politician. He recently rose to the spotlight after he was selected as the APC presidential running mate of Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the 2023 Nigerian presidential election.

The politician is privileged to have been in different political seats in Nigeria. He served as the governor of Borno State from 2011 to 2019. He afterward moved over to the senate to represent Borno central from 2019. Read further as we unveil more about him.

Summary of Senator Kashim Shettima’s Bio

  • Full name: Kashim Shettima Mustapha
  • Gender: Male
  • Date of birth: November 2, 1966
  • Kashim Shettima’s Age: 57 years old
  • Ethnicity: Kanuri
  • Nationality: Nigerian
  • Zodiac Sign: Scorpio
  • Sexual Orientation: Straight
  • Religion: Islam
  • Marital Status: Married
  • Senator Kashim Shettima’s Wife: Hajia Nana Shettima
  • Senator Kashim Shettima’s Children: 3
  • Senator Kashim Shettima’s Parents: Alhaji Shettima Mustafa Kuttayibe (father)
  • Senator Kashim Shettima’s Net Worth: $1 billion
  • Famous for: His political career

Senator Kashim Shettima Hails From Maiduguri, Borno State

Senator Kashim Shettima was born on September 2, 1966, in Maiduguri, Borno State, to a Muslim family. He was born into the family of Alhaji Shettima Mustafa Kuttayibe. He is from Borno central and of the Kanuri tribe.

Though a public figure, much about his parents remains unknown. He is seen to reserve information about himself as his siblings and what they are up to have been kept away from the public. The politician spent the bulk of his childhood in Maiduguri, where he was raised by his parents under the Islamic faith.

Shettima is an Alumnus of The University of Ibadan

The politician is seen to be highly educated as he possesses a strong academic foundation. He got his primary education at Lamisula Primary School in Maiduguri from 1972 to 1978. He further got part of his secondary education at the Government Community Secondary School in Biu, located in the southern part of Borno state, from 1978 to 1980.

In 1983, Shettima finished his secondary education at Government Science Secondary School, Potiskum, which is currently located in Yobe State. He obtained a B.Sc. degree from the Department of Agricultural Economics of the University of Maiduguri in 1989. The politician subsequently did his one-year National Youth Service Corp in Calabar.

During his NYSC, Kashim Shettima was assigned to the Nigerian Agricultural Cooperative Bank as his place of primary assignment from 1989 to 1990. He decided to climb up another academic ladder by going for his master’s degree. He obtained his MSc in Agricultural Economics from the University of Ibadan in 1991.

A Cursory Look Into The Politician‘s Multifaceted Career

Senator Kashim Shettima has worked in different sectors of the Nigerian economy, thanks to his solid educational background, which gave him a platform to get to where he is today. The politician returned to his state of origin to pursue a career after the end of his NYSC.

He got employed at the University of Maiduguri, where he became one of the lecturers in the Department of Agriculture Economics of the university. The politician served in the department from 1991 to 1993 before extending his services to the banking sector.

Senator Kashim Shettima Had a Flourishing Banking Career

Senator Kashim Shettima was a successful banker who was opportune to be at different levels of the banking sector. He ventured into the banking sector in 1993, where he was employed by the then Commercial Bank of Africa Limited to head the accounts unit in their branch located at Ikeja, Lagos State.

The senator functioned in that position from 1993 to 1997 before he left for another bank. He moved to the next phase of his banking experience in 1997 when he was employed by African International Bank Limited. Shettima was employed in the post of Deputy Manager of the bank. He served in the position until he was promoted to the position of manager in 2001.

The politician is no doubt one who likes to explore, as he left the position shortly for a higher position in another bank. He moved on to Zenith Bank as the head of their main branch located in Maiduguri. Being an experienced banker at this stage, he got to the level of a Senior Manager (branch head), Assistant General Manager (Zonal Head North East), and then Deputy General Manager (Zonal Head North East).

In 2007, after holding the post of General Manager, Shettima left Zenith Bank because of his appointment as the Borno State Commissioner for Finance.

He Began His Political Career as a Finance Commissioner

Kashim Shettima joined politics in 2007 when he was appointed as the Commissioner for Finance in Borno State. Having gained lots of experience in the banking sector, the Borno state government found him fully competent and qualified for the position. He served as a commissioner in charge of five different ministries of the state from 2007 to 2011.

From his achievements as the Commissioner for Finance in the state, he then ventured into other aspects of state politics. In 2008, he became the Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. In 2009, he was appointed the Commissioner for Education. He served as the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources and also under the Ministry of Health before running for governorship.

The Politician Served as Borno State Governor From 2011 to 2019

Senator Kashim Shettima’s journey to becoming the governor of Borno State was one that could be regarded as predestined. Engr. Modu Fannami Gubio was the candidate selected by the All Nigerian Peoples’ Party (ANPP) for the Borno State governorship in 2011.

Unfortunately, the ANPP candidate was shot dead by gunmen, and Kashim Shettima was then nominated to run for governorship under the party. He won the Borno governorship election result with 531,147 votes on April 26, 2011. The politician remained the governor of the state despite all the opposition and court filings and the inherited insecurity suffered by the state.

In 2015, he was re-elected for a second tenure as the governor of the state under the All Progressive Congress (APC) and served till 2019. While he served as a governor, he was appointed as the Chairman of the Northern State Governor’s Forum under APC.

During his tenure as the Borno state governor, he contributed drastically towards fighting the insecurity rampaging the state. Due to his recognized efforts toward bringing good governance to the state, he was awarded Governor of the Year on different occasions by lots of organizations in the country and beyond.

Senator Kashim Shettima Won The Borno Central Senatorial Election of Borno in 2019

After his successful years as the governor of Borno State, Shettima leveled up and contested for the position of senator of Borno Central under the APC. Senator Kashim Shettima was declared the winner at the INEC Zonal collation center in Maiduguri. His victory over his main opponent, Mr. Muhammed Abba-Aji of the People’s Democratic Party, was well celebrated. He has been serving in the position from 2019 to date.

Highlight of His Political Positions
  • Commissioner for Finance:  2007-2011
  • Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs: 2008
  • Commisioner for Education: 2009
  • Commisioner for Agriculture and Natural resources
  • Ministry of Health
  • Borno State Governor: 2011-2019
  • Borno Central Senator: 2019 to date

His Nomination as Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Running Mate Has Been Met With Criticism

On July 10, 2022, Senator Kashim Shettima was announced as Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s running mate for the 2023 presidential election under the APC. Tinubu made the statement at Daura, Katsina State, when he went to visit the incumbent President, Muhamadu Buhari. This decision came after Alhaji Masari withdrew as the running mate placeholder.

The appointment has set Nigerians and the party members in a frenzy, owing to the fact that Tinubu and Kashim Shettima are Muslims. Many people and organizations, including the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), have condemned the APC’s decision to run a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

Most Nigerians believe that a Muslim-Muslim ticket will be damaging to Nigerian unity. Some of the party members advised a balance on religious grounds during the selection. Others are of the opinion that it should be done, considering the balance in the regions of Nigeria.

In reaction to the backlash, Bola Tinubu stated that Senator Kashim Shettima is the right man for the job. He further stated that Shettima has the required qualifications and governance experience to perform in the position.

Senator Kashim Shettima is Happily Married to Hajia Nana Shettima

Senator Kashim Shettima is happily married to his wife, Hajia Nana Shettima. Details about how they met, the year they got married, and how long they have been together are unknown. She holds a Bachelor of Science in English Language and Literature from the University of Maiduguri.

Nana is also a philanthropist who has worked with a number of organizations to show compassion and support to widows, orphans, and victims of insurgency. Asides from this, she is a great support to her husband’s political career. They are parents to three children; two girls and a boy. However, the politician has shown his height of privacy as there is no information on his children.

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