Ibrahim Shehu Shema Turns 69: A Life of Service

Today, 22 September, Dr Ibrahim Shehu Shema, CON, FNIM, former governor of Katsina State, is celebrating his 69th birthday. Shema is known for being modest and tends to stay away from talking about his achievements. Because of this, I take it upon myself to write about him each year without telling him, so he does not discourage me.

Shema is a quiet leader whose actions speak for him. People across Nigeria recognize his work. You often hear people say, “Shema performed creditably well as governor.” This was even clearer to me when I read an article comparing past and present governments in Katsina State.

The writer of the article said we should judge based on facts. He praised the current governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, for his good work in a short time. However, he also reminded everyone of the contributions from past governors, especially the late Umaru Musa Yar’adua and Ibrahim Shehu Shema.

“When the late Malam Umaru Musa Yar’Adua took over from the military regime,” the article mentioned, “the state had big financial problems, with little money for projects. He was careful and patient, finding funds and saving money. By the time he left, Yar’Adua had made his mark in Katsina State’s history with important development and a strong foundation for future growth.”

Shema built on that foundation, and people still remember his time as governor for its wide-reaching impact. His style of leadership is based on humility and results, setting a standard for good governance in Katsina State.

Shema took the groundwork laid by the late Yar’adua and pushed it further. Like Yar’adua, Shema made significant improvements to the infrastructure and economy of Katsina State. If you look at the projects he completed, you would see that without them, Katsina would not be the modern urban center it is today.

Think about the new Government House, the Ring Road, Karkanda Stadium, the Orthopaedic Hospital, KSITM, Barhim, Sardauna, Fatima Shema, and Makera Housing Estates, which have about 2,000 housing units, the ICT Institute, and Umaru Musa Yar’adua University. Without these projects, Katsina would not have transformed into a bustling capital.

Even after nearly 12 years since Shema left office, his influence is still clear. The idea that removing his projects would change Katsina’s modern image shows his vision and leadership. He was a pioneer in governance and infrastructure, known for his people-focused policies and projects that made a lasting impact.

It is not an overstatement to call him a leader who performed excellently. Recent events only strengthen this view. Shema has shown he can turn things around quickly. For example, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) appointed him as Chairman of the Governing Board of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC). The Council started on 19 January, after years of challenges.

In 2014, the Federal Government made the NSC the economic regulator for Nigeria’s ports, but there was no law to back it up from the National Assembly. Attempts by past assemblies to pass a permanent law failed due to interests involved. But in 2023, the Federal Government put forward the Nigeria Port Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) Bill under President Tinubu. This bill was meant to give NPERA the power to oversee maritime services and set standards for port operators.

The bill faced delays between the National Assembly and the Presidency. After his inauguration, Shema said at his home in Abuja: “President Tinubu’s passion to reposition Nigeria on the right path cannot be measured. The President truly has good intentions for this country. I promised to do my best to help his vision for a new Nigeria succeed.”

Even before the 2023 presidential election, Shema shared this belief. His words and actions show he is committed to Nigeria’s progress and that he is a leader with a “touch of gold.”

In just three months as Chairman of the NSC, Dr. Ibrahim Shehu Shema used his good relationship with the National Assembly leaders. On 28 April, the Senate passed the revised NPERA Bill. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed it into law on 13 August, aiming to lead Nigeria into a new phase of change.

A few days later, on 18 August, at a board meeting in Lagos, the management and staff welcomed Shema like a hero. Their gesture showed their gratitude for how much the agency changed since he took over. His “touch of gold” was already making a positive difference, proving he is a leader who gets results.

In Katsina’s history, Shema is unique for making sure all projects from past governments were finished before starting new ones. He focuses on results when others make excuses. He sees chances where others see problems and delivers success where others just make promises. Talking with him about governance reveals his deep knowledge and vision, which is impressive. People often describe his understanding of issues as a model for leadership.

Outside politics, Shema is a respected figure for many families, known for his integrity and advice. He does not often criticize or praise others, but he consistently acknowledges the good work of two leaders in Nigeria: the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Shema often calls Yar’adua his father, leader, and mentor. His loyalty to the Yar’adua family has remained strong, even after the former president died. For instance, before the APC primaries for the 2027 elections, some people asked Shema to run for the Katsina Central senatorial seat, held by Senator Abdulazees Yar’Adua, the late president’s younger brother. He laughed off the idea, saying: “That must be a joke. How can a member of the Yar’Adua family want a position, while I also want the same? I have a duty to protect the interests of anything related to Yar’Adua.” His actions have shown this belief over the years.

The second person he often praises is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR). Before the 2023 presidential election, even though he was not part of the ruling APC, Shema supported Tinubu and his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima. He did this without asking for anything in return, directing his political team to back their campaign.

Shema believes President Tinubu is the right person to guide Nigeria through tough times. He often says that a true leader does not just do what is popular, but does what is right. “What is popular may not be right. A good leader must have the courage to do what is right against all odds,” he has said. To him, Tinubu shows this courage by putting what is right first, regardless of what people think. Shema believes that every Nigerian who wants the country to progress should support Tinubu, no matter their religion or ethnicity.

“You cannot take away honour and integrity from President Tinubu, and nobody can fix Nigeria’s problems in just two or three years. Since we returned to democracy in 1999, no one has changed lives across the nation like Tinubu. God has used him to help many people reach their potential.”

Asiwaju, he added, is very loyal to his supporters, even though some have taken advantage of that loyalty.

“What he did at the burial of the late President Buhari confirmed to me that Tinubu is a good man. Despite the challenges he faced during the 2023 election, he sent his presidential plane to bring Buhari’s body from London. He made sure the body was in the cabin, not the cargo. Tinubu chose to fly to Katsina privately and then drove to Daura, directing key officials to attend the burial.”

Even with all he went through, Tinubu stayed loyal to Buhari until the end. Everyone knows he took over a failing government, but he has accepted this responsibility without blaming anyone, a sign of strong leadership.

Since early 2025, Shema has promised to rally his political team and use his resources to support Tinubu’s re-election. On 14 July, he set up the Tinubu/Dikko Again 2027 Women and Youth Centre, a political structure that is the first of its kind in the state. This platform spans polling units to wards, local governments, and the state level, led by Salisu Yusuf Majigiri, a House of Representatives member for Mashi/Dutsi Federal Constituency.

At the launch of the Centre, which had many top Katsina politicians, Governor Malam Umaru Dikko Radda declared: “This is a political structure that can win elections,” promising his full support.

To my boss, leader, mentor, and father, I cannot say enough about you. I pray that God keeps you healthy. Happy birthday, sir.