Senator Kashim Shettima, the vice presidential candidate of the APC was born 2 September 1966 in Shettimari, Borno state, to the family of Shettima Mustafa Kuttayibe.
He began his education at the Lamisula Primary School Maiduguri between 1972 and 1978. He then went to the Government Community Secondary School, Biu in 1978. At GCSS, he passed the West African School Certificate Examinations (WASCE) in 1980. He was admitted into the University of Maiduguri for his first degree programme in 1983 and by 1989, he obtained the Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in Agricultural Economics, with a Second Class Upper Division. For his National Youth Service, he worked with the Nigerian Agricultural Cooperative Bank in Calabar from 1989 to 1990. He then attended the University of Ibadan from 1990 to 1991, gaining a Master’s Degree in Agricultural Economics. Having a master’s degree earned him elevation to a higher grade of lecturer II in the Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Maiduguri in 1993, although he started lecturing by 1991.
Shettima worked with the Commercial Bank of Africa as an Agricultural Economist at its Ikeja Office, Lagos State (1993-1997). He switched to become a deputy manager, later manager, at the African International Bank Limited, Kaduna Branch (1997–2001). He was appointed Deputy Manager/Branch Head of the Zenith Bank's Maiduguri Office in 2001. He became the General Manager five years later. In mid-2007, he was appointed Commissioner of the Borno State Ministry of Finance and Economic Development. Later, he became Commissioner in the Ministries of Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs, Education, Agriculture and later Health under his predecessor as Borno Governor Ali Modu Sheriff.
In the January 2011 ANPP primaries, Engineer Modu Fannami Gubio was elected as candidate for the governorship. However, Gubio was later shot dead by gunmen. Shettima was elected in a second primary in February 2011, later winning the general elections on April 26, 2011. After his first term as Borno State governor, he went on a re-election bid and got elected for a second term in April 2015. He was also elected as the Chairman of the Northern Governor’s Forum.
As Governor, he provided uncommon leadership during the height of the Boko Haram insurgency and continued to lead the humanitarian response in Borno State. In recognition of his leadership credentials, Kashim Shettima was awarded the 2014 Governor of the Year by Leadership Newspapers, Governor of the year in 2015 by the leadership of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NewsWatch Times Newspapers and Vanguard Newspapers.
Kashim Shettima is a top level table tennis player. An avid reader and a delightful speaker, Mr. Shettima speaks fluent Kanuri, Hausa and English. He is married to Hajia Nana Shettima and together they have 2 daughters and a son.
He is at present the Senator Representing Borno Central under the banner of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He is also the Chairman, Senate Committee on Interior.
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