Professor Babagana Umara Zulum has paid tribute to former governor, Senator Kashim Shettima who turned 53 years old today even as he referred to him as his mentor.
Zulum, in a message he personally distributed through social media platforms, called Shettima a mentor, with whom he has had “the greatest experiences” in life.
The governor’s message began with a quote from Steven Spielberg which reads, “The delicate balance of mentoring someone is not creating them in your own image, but giving them the opportunity to create themselves”.
Zulum thereafter addressed Shettima directly by saying, “Your Excellency, my mentor, knowing you, associating with you and working with you have been the greatest experiences of my life.
“What is particularly rare about your mentoring is that large heart to create for those who have earned your trust, the independence of being themselves and making decisions in trying to achieve the high developmental goals you set for them.
Beyond being a mentor, you are a statesman, a passionate and selfless one at that, whose only focus at all times is the peace, progress and transformational growth of Borno state and our people”.
We are pleased and proud to have gone through your immeasurable school of wisdom and we are more than determined to insha’Allah, build on the many good things you achieved despite the huge challenges you dealt with.
The governor said he would key into the ex-governor’s vision to “see an aggressively developed Borno State”.