Vice President Kashim Shettima has marked his 60th birthday by asking Nigerians, friends, supporters and associates to forgo gifts, elaborate celebrations and congratulatory advertisements in his honour and instead use the money to help people in need.
Shettima made the appeal in a personal message titled “What I Ask For at Sixty,” published ahead of his birthday on Wednesday, September 2. Rather than treating the milestone as an occasion for material celebration, the Vice President said turning 60 had deepened his conviction that the more important measure of a person's life is what they give back to society.
He recalled that he had consistently appealed to friends and well-wishers not to spend money on gifts or undertake costly projects in his honour on his birthdays. At 60, he said, he was even more committed to that request.
For Shettima, reaching the milestone should encourage reflection, gratitude and generosity rather than an emphasis on personal accumulation. He argued that age should bring a greater awareness of one's responsibilities to others and a stronger desire to make a positive contribution.
He therefore asked anyone planning to celebrate him to redirect whatever money they intended to spend towards a charity, a worthy cause or an individual in need anywhere in Nigeria.
The Vice President said generosity should not be judged solely by the amount involved, stressing that even a small act of kindness can become meaningful when it reaches someone at a difficult moment.
His message also reflected on the role other people play in an individual's journey through life. Shettima acknowledged the contributions of family members, teachers, friends, colleagues, supporters, well-wishers and even strangers who offer assistance without expecting anything in return.
He said reaching an important milestone is rarely the result of individual effort alone and argued that people who have benefited from the kindness of others have a responsibility to extend similar kindness to those who may never be able to repay them.
That philosophy formed the central message of his birthday appeal: instead of spending money celebrating him, well-wishers could make the occasion meaningful by helping someone else.
Shettima also asked Nigerians to replace birthday advertisements, gifts and celebrations with prayers. He specifically called for prayers for himself and for Nigeria, including prayers for peace in communities, prosperity, wisdom for leaders and the realisation of the country's potential.
The Vice President described Nigeria's people, entrepreneurial spirit, youthful population and cultural diversity as important national assets. He said the country's ability to maintain fellowship across differences was one of the enduring strengths of the Nigerian spirit.
His appeal for a low-key birthday is consistent with his previous position on birthday celebrations. In earlier years, Shettima had similarly encouraged friends and political associates to avoid expensive publicity and instead direct resources towards charitable purposes.
The message comes at a time when the Vice President has spent more than three years serving alongside President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Shettima became Vice President in May 2023 after previously serving as governor of Borno State from 2011 to 2019 and later representing Borno Central in the Senate.
But rather than using his 60th birthday message to reflect extensively on his political career, Shettima placed the emphasis on a broader lesson about service, gratitude and responsibility.
His message ultimately presents the birthday not simply as a personal milestone but as an opportunity for others to make a difference in the lives of people around them. By asking supporters to turn potential gifts and celebrations into assistance for people in need, the Vice President has encouraged a form of celebration measured less by what is spent and more by who benefits.
As he enters his seventh decade, Shettima expressed gratitude for the goodwill and support he has received over the years and asked Nigerians to continue praying for the country.
He ended his message by wishing Nigerians long life, good health, fulfilment and the satisfaction that comes from being useful to someone who may never have the means to repay them.
No comments:
Post a Comment