By Vice President Kashim Shettima is turning 60 on September 2, but rather than inviting the usual wave of congratulatory adverts and public celebrations that typically accompany such milestones for Nigerian officials, he is asking well-wishers to skip the fanfare entirely.
The request came in a statement released on Saturday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, in which the Vice President asked friends, associates, and supporters to hold off on congratulatory advertorials across print, broadcast, and digital platforms, as well as any organised public gatherings in his honour. Shettima framed the decision as a matter of propriety, arguing that national attention is better spent on the country’s development than on marking a personal milestone.
In place of celebrations, the Vice President asked that any goodwill be redirected into prayer, specifically for the success of the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms, durable answers to Nigeria’s security challenges, stronger national cohesion, and general peace and prosperity for citizens. According to the statement, Shettima wants the day treated less as a personal celebration and more as a moment for reflection, gratitude, and recommitment to public service.
The statement, titled “60th Birthday: VP Shettima Opts For Low-Key Celebration,” was dated August 29 and formally credited to Nkwocha. With the actual birthday still a few days away, the announcement effectively sets the tone in advance, signalling that any elaborate tributes or paid congratulatory placements would run counter to the vice president’s own stated wishes.
