Kashim Shettima is a famous banker and politician in Nigeria. He is a well accomplished politician in Africa at large and it makes many to inquire into knowing his age, how he started, career, children and other hidden things about him while climbing the ladder of success.
Full name
His full name is Kashim Shettima Mustapha
State of Origin
He is from Borno State, North East Geopolitical region of Nigeria.
Early life/Background
Kashim was born on 2nd September 1966 in Maiduguri which was located in the former Northern region when Nigeria practiced regional parliamentary system of government. The creation of States in Nigeria placed Maiduguri to be under Borno State and it is the capital city of the state. He was raised in the Northern part of Nigeria under the leadership of his father Shettima Mustafa Kuttayibe.
His early life was a promising one as he indicated passion for education even though his parents desired to give him the best quality education that can guide his career journey. He was born a month ahead of Nigeria 6th Independence Day celebration. His birth came during a military system of government but he did not join the army as he decided to take a different route of achieving success by living like every other civilian in Nigeria at that time.
Education
His basic education was all done in the North where he grew up in. He started his primary school education at Lamisula Primary School Maiduguri which he finished in the year 1978 before he proceeded to Government Community Secondary School but he did not complete his secondary school education there as he was transferred to Government Science Secondary School Potiskum where he rounded off his high school before seeking admission into the University of Maiduguri .He was accepted in the University and enrolled into Agricultural Economics as a course of study in UNIMAID.
He studied as expected of him leading to his successful graduation in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics. After his first degree program, he compulsorily embarked on National Youth Service Corps Program (NYSC) which made him to leave Northern Nigeria for the first time as he was posted to Calabar in Cross River State where he worked in a corporative bank as his Place of Primary Assignment (PPA).
After the end of his compulsory National Service in 1990, he proceeded to Ibadan to start his Master degree program in Agricultural economics. After his detailed research and classroom participations he secured Master of Science degree (MSc) in Agricultural economics in the year 1991.
Lecturer
He became home sick after his Masters Degree program in Ibadan, Oyo State South West geopolitical region of Nigeria and he decided to return back to his state to pick up a lecturing job at the University of Maiduguri. His application was successful and he became a lecturer in his former department where he lectured for three years in the department of Agricultural economics before he left in 1993 to pursue a career different from academia.
Banking Career
During his NYSC program, he worked in a corporative bank and it contributed in his desire to pursue a career in banking sector where he remained till he joined politics. After leaving his lecturing job in 1993, he sought employment in banking sector and secured a job role as head of account unit in a defunct bank named Commercial Bank of Africa Limited which enabled him to leave Borno State to Lagos State.
He worked at the bank’s office in Ikeja, capital city of Lagos State, He worked there for four years (1993-1997) before leaving the bank to seek a senior job role elsewhere which he was lucky to secure a job at African International Bank Limited. He started work there in 1997 as deputy manager at the Kaduna State Branch. He worked with commitment, happiness and passion for his job which earned him a promotion into becoming the bank Manager in the year 2001.
He did not work for a longer time there even with the promotion as he decided to seek another job employment in Zenith Bank Plc where he was appointed and billed to relocate to his home State. It was a great joy for him as he had already started growing home sick while outside Borno State and needed to return home to be closer to his people. Zenith Bank appointed him the head of their branch in the capital city of Maiduguri leveraging on his working experience from classroom, banking and also his knowledge of his people as someone that grew up in his immediate environment.
Kashim is known for seriousness in his job and he worked assiduously to climb on the corporate ladder of Zenith Bank. When he was confirmed to be an asset for Zenith bank, he was promoted to become a senior manager and continued climbing as far as becoming Zonal head of the bank in the North East. He worked in zenith bank from 2001 till he was appointed to become a commissioner in 2007.
Political Journey
In 2007 he was called to come and serve his people to give his best in public service delivery as a commissioner. He was nominated and confirmed as a commissioner with the assigned portfolio of becoming commissioner for Finance. He has worked in banking sector for many years and he understood financial matters which he was invited to help the government to structure the ministry of finance. His success also made him to head other ministries where he served as commissioner for Local Government. commissioner of education, then returning back to his professional course in the university where he served as commissioner for Agriculture.
His journey from one ministry to another starting in 2007, it enabled him to understand how government works and he was working and learning the ropes of governance for the latter days of his political. He served as a commissioner from 2007- 2011 where he headed different ministries.
Governor of Borno State
In the political hit of 2011 Governorship election in Borno State, his party All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) lost their Governorship candidate Engr. Modu Gubio was killed by unknown gun men, it caused panic in their camp but Kashim became the party Governorship candidate after he emerged victorious in a primary election conducted to replace Gubio. He clinched the ANPP Gubernatorial ticket and also won the main election where he defeated the candidate of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) alongside other contestants.
He governed Borno State for two term (8 years) of office from 2011-2019 before he handed over to his successor Prof. Babagana Zulum to pursue his senatorial ambition.
His party merged with other political parties to form All Progressive Congress (APC) in 2015 and he won his second tenure as governor in 2015 through the party.
Senatorial Ambition
The constitution of Nigeria only allows two terms of eight years and in 2019 he was not eligible again to contest for the office of the Governor and he picked senatorial form to represent Borno Central at the Senate floor of the National Assembly. He contested under the platform of his party APC in2019 and he was elected as a senator of the federal republic of Nigeria.
Vice President of Nigeria
After his four years as a senator, he was preparing to contest again ahead of 2023 general election when he was picked to become the running mate of APC presidential Candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu for 2023 Presidential election. He ran a joint ticket with his principal and the duo were declared winner in the said election.
Awards
His highest award came after he was elected to become vice president of Nigeria. He received the award of Grand Commander in the Order of the Niger (GCON).
While he served as the Governor of Borno State, he received several awards such as Zik Prize for Leadership, Governor of the year award from Newswatch Times and Vanguard Newspapers respectively in 2015.
Marriage
He married at the age of 32 to his beloved wife Nana Usman Alkali. His marriage took place in the year 1998 when he was still working as a banker
Children
Kashim and his wife have three children together.