Vice President says milestone should be marked with prayers for Nigeria, economic reforms and national unity….
Vice President Kashim Shettima has asked friends, associates and well-wishers to keep his 60th birthday celebrations low-key, urging them not to place congratulatory advertisements or organise public events to mark the occasion.
Shettima, who turns 60 on September 2, 2026, made the appeal in a statement issued on Saturday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha.
The Vice President said he deliberately chose a subdued celebration because he believes public attention should remain centred on the country’s development rather than on his personal milestone.
“To ensure absolute propriety, I respectfully appeal that there should be no public birthday celebrations, congratulatory gatherings or goodwill advertorials across print, broadcast and digital media platforms,” Shettima said.
Rather than spending money on birthday events or newspaper and online advertisements, the Vice President urged those wishing to celebrate him to direct their goodwill towards prayers for Nigeria and the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
He specifically appealed for prayers for the success of the government’s economic reforms, an end to the country’s security challenges, stronger national unity and improved prosperity for Nigerians.
According to the statement, Shettima wants the occasion to serve as a moment for Nigerians and his associates to reflect on the country’s journey and renew their commitment to its development.
“For VP Shettima, the occasion should serve less as a celebration of a personal milestone and more as an opportunity for reflection, gratitude and renewed commitment to the service of the country,” the statement said.
The Vice President’s appeal effectively rules out the type of elaborate public celebrations, goodwill messages and congratulatory advertisements often associated with milestone birthdays of senior political figures.
Instead, Shettima said the occasion should be used to reinforce the collective responsibility of building a more secure, united and prosperous Nigeria.
The statement, titled “60th Birthday: VP Shettima Opts For Low-Key Celebration,” was signed by Nkwocha and dated August 29, 2026.
