Four Things To Know About Tinubu’s Running Mate, Kashim Shettima

Senator Kashim Shettima, a former governor of Borno State, was a few hours ago named the running mate to the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Tinubu chose the 56-year-old lawmaker as his running mate following long deliberations among party stalwarts.

Tinubu disclosed his choice in an interactive session with reporters during a visit to President Muhammadu Buhari in Daura, Katsina State on Sunday.

Shettima, a staunch supporter of Tinubu, played a key role in his emergence as presidential candidate of the ruling party.

He mobilised support for and toured many states with Tinubu since December 2021 where he addressed party delegates.

A two-term governor and serving senator, here are some facts about Shettima who has now replaced Tinubu’s ‘placeholder’, Alhaji Ibrahim Masari.

Birth

Shettima was born on September 2, 1966 to the family of Sir Kashim Ibrahim.

Education

He studied at the University of Maiduguri, Borno State and earned a degree (BSc) in Agricultural Economics in 1989.

Shettima obtained a master’s degree (MSc) in Agricultural Economics in 1991 at the University of Ibadan.

Career

Shettima joined the University of Maiduguri as a lecturer with the Department of Agricultural Economics and was in academia from 1991 to 1993.

He also worked in the banking sector (from 1997 to 2007) before ventring into politics.

Posts held

In 2007, Shettima was appointed as Commissioner for Finance in Borno and the governor of Borno State for two terms (2011-2019).

In February 2019, he became the winner of the Borno Central Senatorial District election.