Vice-President of Nigeria, Kashim Shettima has told his friends and well-wishers not to pay for adverts in newspapers and TV channels on the occasion of his 57th birthday.
Shettima, who was born on September 2, 1966, will celebrate his birthday on Saturday.
But in a statement on Thursday, the vice-president told his well-wishers to consider celebrating this year’s occasion in a different way.
He also called on those planning to place such adverts to channel the money to charity.
“Dear friends and well-wishers, greetings to you all. As we approach the anniversary of my birth on September 2nd, I am utterly grateful for the warm wishes and kind sentiments that many of you have expressed over the years,” Shettima said.
“Your thoughtfulness has touched my heart and has been a source of immense joy.
“At the same time, I would like to take this opportunity to humbly request that you consider celebrating this occasion in a different way.
“In the spirit of our nation’s commitment to responsible resource management and responsive governance, I kindly ask you to refrain from placing birthday wishes on newspaper pages or utilizing paid channels to convey your greetings.
“I invite you to join me in channelling our collective efforts towards a nobler cause.
“Instead of spending resources on such messages, I encourage you to contribute to the betterment of our society by donating to charity organizations in need, or your preference, in our collective pursuit of a humane and functional world.”
