Vice President Kashim Shettima has appealed to Nigerians, friends, supporters and associates to avoid spending money on gifts, advertisements or celebrations as he marks his 60th birthday on Wednesday.
Shettima made the appeal in a statement posted on his X account on Tuesday night, urging those who wish to celebrate him to instead direct the money they would have spent to charities, causes or individuals in need across the country.
The Vice President said he was “even more resolute” in making the request as he reached the milestone age, noting that birthdays over the years had been occasions for him to appreciate the affection and goodwill of Nigerians.
“Over the years, I have been deeply humbled by the affection, prayers and goodwill that have accompanied my birthdays.
Such occasions leave one grateful for the friendships, fellowships and bonds accumulated across the years,” he said.
Shettima recalled that he had consistently asked his friends, supporters, well-wishers, associates and admirers not to buy him gifts or undertake costly projects in his honour.
“Yet there is one appeal I have consistently made to my friends, supporters, well-wishers, associates and admirers, far and near: please do not spend a kobo on a gift for me, nor undertake any venture of material consequence in my honour.”
According to him, attaining 60 has strengthened his belief that the milestone should be observed through generosity and service to others rather than material celebrations.
Sixty is an age at which our people expect a man to have exchanged impulse for reflection, vanity for gratitude, and the desire to accumulate for the wisdom to give.
“It is an age that asks fewer questions about what one has gathered and far more searching questions about what one has contributed,” Shettima said.
He consequently urged anyone planning to mark his birthday to redirect such resources towards people or causes requiring assistance.
“I therefore appeal once again to everyone who wishes me well not to spend money marking my day, but to channel whatever resources they may have intended for such gestures to a charity, cause or person of their choice anywhere in our country,” he said.
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Shettima stressed that kindness did not have to involve large sums of money to have an impact on someone in need.
A nation is ennobled by the care it extends to those who need the strength of others. Our means may differ, but generosity is not measured only by the size of what we give.
“Sometimes the smallest kindness arrives at precisely the moment another person needs to be reminded that humanity has not forgotten them. For me, such an act is among the most eloquent prayers anyone can offer on my behalf,” the vice president stated.
Reflecting on his six decades of life, Shettima said no one reaches significant milestones solely through personal effort, as individuals benefit from the support and kindness of others throughout their lives.
“None of us arrives at sixty, or indeed at any meaningful station in life, entirely by our own strength. We are all beneficiaries of the kindness of family, friends, teachers, colleagues, supporters, well-wishers and, sometimes, strangers who had nothing to gain from extending a hand to us.
“It is only fitting that we repay such debts in the currency in which they were incurred: by extending kindness to those who may never be in a position to repay us,” he added.
Rather than birthday publicity, gifts or elaborate celebrations, the Vice President said what he wanted most from Nigerians was prayer.
“What I ask for, in place of advertisements, gifts and celebrations, is prayer. Pray for me, and pray for Nigeria,” he said.
He called for prayers for peace across the country, economic prosperity and wisdom for those in leadership, while describing Nigeria’s population and diversity as important national strengths.
“Pray for the peace of our communities, the prosperity of our people, the wisdom of our leaders and the fulfilment of the immense promise of this nation,” Shettima said.
Ours is a country blessed with an industrious people, an extraordinary instinct for enterprise, a generosity that travels easily across family and community, and a youthful population whose imagination, talent and ambition remain among our greatest national assets.”
He added, “Our diversity is a vast inheritance, our cultures are reservoirs of strength, and our capacity to find fellowship across difference is one of the enduring beauties of the Nigerian spirit.”
Shettima expressed appreciation to Nigerians for their support and goodwill throughout the years, and wished them “long life, good health, fulfilment in all that is noble, and the quiet joy of being useful to someone who may never be able to repay you.”