Kashim Shettima Biography And Net Worth

If you’ve heard the name “Kashim Shettima” on the news, on social media, or in everyday conversation — that’s because he is one of Nigeria’s most prominent political figures in 2025. He holds the office of Vice President of Nigeria, and his story is one of banking, politics, resilience and leadership.

In this article, we’ll breakdown everything you need to know about Kashim Shettima.

Early Life & Background

Date and place of birth: Kashim Shettima was born on September 2, 1966, in Maiduguri, which is now in Borno State in Northeastern Nigeria.

Family background: He comes from a family with notable heritage in Borno.

Early Education

He attended Lamisula Primary School in Maiduguri (1972–1978).

For secondary school, he went to Government Community Secondary School, Biu (1978–1980), and then Government Science Secondary School, Potiskum, where he completed his West African School Certificate in 1983.

University Education

Shettima studied Agricultural Economics at the University of Maiduguri, earning a B.Sc in 1989.

After his mandatory youth service (NYSC), in 1991 he got a master’s degree (MSc) in Agricultural Economics from University of Ibadan.

This educational path gave him both local grounding (in Maiduguri) and broader academic exposure (in Ibadan), equipping him for future work in banking, economics, and governance.

From Academia To Banking: Professional Beginnings

After finishing his master’s degree, Shettima started out as a lecturer in the Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of Maiduguri — working there from 1991 to 1993.

In 1993, he began a major career shift: entering the banking sector. His banking journey included:

• Head of Accounts Unit at the now‑defunct Commercial Bank of Africa (Ikeja, Lagos) — 1993 to 1997
• Deputy Manager (later Manager) at African International Bank Ltd — 1997 to 2001

In 2001, he returned to Maiduguri to head the main branch of Zenith Bank. Over the years, he climbed the ranks: Senior Manager → Assistant General Manager → Deputy General Manager/Zonal Head (North‑East). By 2007, he reached the level of General Manager.

At this point, Shettima had a solid background in economics and banking. This would later help shape his approach to governance — especially in areas like finance, development, and rebuilding.

Entering Public Service: From Commissioner To Governor

In 2007, Shettima made the jump from banking to public service. He was appointed to several commissioner roles in the government of his home state (Borno), including Finance and Economic Development, Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs, Education, Agriculture, and Health.

Rise To Governorship

• In 2011, he contested and won the election to become Governor of Borno State under the then‑party All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).
• He was re‑elected in 2015 — this time under the umbrella of All Progressives Congress (APC).
• During this second term, he was also selected as Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, a body representing the governors of Nigeria’s northern states.

Challenges: Insurgency And Reconstruction

Shettima’s time as governor was heavily defined by the conflict with the insurgent group Boko Haram, which ravaged parts of Borno and the Northeast.

Despite immense challenges, his administration tried to respond through:

• The formalization of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), giving local youth stipends, kits, and vehicles to support security efforts.
• Massive efforts to rebuild infrastructure: for instance, his government reportedly initiated the building of “mega‑schools” to replace over 900 schools destroyed by the insurgency; by 2019, about 24 of these had been completed.
• Providing free education, uniforms, books, and (projected) meal programs for thousands of displaced and affected students.

Through those years, Shettima became known — in many circles — not just as a politician, but as someone who tried to navigate governance under extreme hardship.

National Stage: From Senator To Vice President

Senatorial Career

After finishing his second term as governor in 2019, Shettima was elected to represent Borno Central Senatorial District in the Senate.

This shift to the national legislature broadened his political experience and visibility beyond Borno State.

Vice Presidency

In 2022, ahead of the 2023 general election, the APC candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu selected Kashim Shettima as his running mate (Vice‑Presidential candidate).

After their victory in the election, Shettima was sworn in as Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on May 29, 2023.

As Vice President, he holds the position of Nigeria’s 15th Vice President, lending his knowledge in economics, governance, and security to the federal government.

Personal Life & Character

• Shettima is married to Nana Shettima, and they have children.
• He is a practicing Muslim.
• Those bits of personal information are what’s publicly shared. Beyond that — as is appropriate — there is respect for personal privacy.

Key Achievements & Notable Contributions

Here are some of the things often cited as major contributions or legacies of Kashim Shettima’s career:

Security and community mobilization: Formalizing and supporting the CJTF to assist military efforts during Boko Haram insurgency.

Education & reconstruction initiatives: Launching large‑scale rebuilding of schools destroyed by insurgency; offering free education and support to displaced or vulnerable students.

Economic and development perspective: With a background in banking and economics, bringing financial and development know‑how into governance — especially relevant now as Vice President when national economic policies are shaped.

Broad governance experience: Serving across multiple levels — as commissioner, governor, senator, and now vice president — which gives him a wide understanding of Nigeria’s political, economic, and security challenges.

Challenges & Critics — A Balanced View

No political career is without challenges, and Shettima’s has had its share. Governing Borno during the height of insurgency meant confronting security threats, displacement, destruction of communities, and widespread humanitarian needs. Residents and critics have sometimes questioned whether government response was fast or sufficient enough.

Also, leading reconstruction and social programs under difficult conditions — poverty, displacement, limited resources — meant that many good intentions faced logistical, financial, and security constraints.

As Vice President now, expectations are high: many Nigerians hope he will help steer economic reforms, security policy, and national unity. Whether he meets those expectations depends on many factors — from governance decisions to broader national and global conditions.

What Shettima Means For Nigeria In 2025 & Beyond

Given his background, experience, and current role, Kashim Shettima represents several important potentials for Nigeria:

Economic sensibility: With years in banking and economics, he has the expertise to contribute meaningfully to economic policy — an advantage in a country facing economic challenges.

Security awareness: Having led Borno through insurgency‑driven crises, he understands the human and social costs of conflict; that could help inform federal-level security and rehabilitation efforts.

Bridging regional and national divides: Coming from Borno (North‑east) but now holding a national office, he could serve as a bridge between regional interests and national governance.

Focus on youth, education, and rebuilding: Given his past emphasis on education and social support in Borno, there’s hope he will champion broader national policies around youth empowerment, education, and rebuilding of neglected regions.

For many Nigerians — especially those in the Northeast — Shettima’s journey signals both representation and possibility: someone who understands hardship, rose through merit, and holds power at the center.