Kashim Shettima, born 2nd September 1966, is a Nigerian agricultural economist and politician who was elected Governor of Borno State, Nigeria, in the 26 April 2011 general elections, running on the platform of the All Nigeria People’s Party, ANPP, which is now part of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
The young Kashim attended Government Community Secondary School, Biu (1978–1980) and Government Science Secondary School, Potiskum, Yobe State (1980-1983). He studied Agricultural Economics at the University of Maiduguri, graduating in 1989. For his National Youth Service he worked with the Nigerian Agricultural Cooperative Bank in Calabar (1989–1990). He then attended the University of Ibadan (1990-1991), acquiring a Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics. From 1991 to 1993 he was a lecturer in the same subject at the University of Maiduguri.
Alhaji Shettima worked with the Commercial Bank of Africa as an Agricultural Economist at its Ikeja Office, Lagos State (1993-1997). He then became a deputy manager, later manager, at the African International Bank Limited, Kaduna Branch (1997–2001), and was appointed Deputy Manager/Branch Head of the Zenith Bank’s Maiduguri Office in 2001, becoming General Manager five years later. In mid-2007, Alhaji Shettima 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, Governor Ali Modu Sheriff.
In the second ANPP primary held in February 2011, Alhaji Shettima emerged as the party’s governorship candidate. In the 26 April 2011 elections, Shettima won with 531,147 votes.
Close watchers say that even in the face of warfare and terrorism one of the major success stories of the Borno State government has been the improvement in the security situation in the state capital, Maiduguri.
The state government is credited to have continued to give support to the security agencies while solely funding the activities of the youth vigilante group called Civilian-JTF, which works round the clock to ward-off Boko Haram fighters. People say the government’s effort in this regard has helped to restore normalcy in most parts of the state capital. Night life has since returned to Maiduguri after several years of experiencing curfew.
