Vice President [Kashim Shettima](https://statehouse.gov.ng/team/kashim- shettima/) visited Maiduguri on Friday, 24 October 2026, to commission a 400‑bed teaching hospital at Kashim Ibrahim University and the Yerwa Practice Mega School, before chatting with a group of Fulani men who serve as security guards and urging them to enrol their children in the newly built schools.
**What projects were inaugurated?**
Shettima officially opened the ultra‑modern Kashim Ibrahim University Teaching Hospital (KIUTH) and two state‑funded schools, highlighting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s focus on sustainable institutions, human‑capital development and improved quality of life.
**Who were the Fulani men and what interaction took place?**
The men, dressed in traditional turbans, greeted the vice president warmly, recalling familiar faces from earlier visits. Shettima recognised a young boy who had grown into adulthood and asked after a woman he referred to as his mother, learning that she could not attend due to unforeseen circumstances.
**How did the vice president reinforce his education message?**
He pulled a small pocket mirror from a guard’s breast pocket, showed it to Governor [Babagana Zulum](https://statehouse.gov.ng/team/babagana-zulum/) standing behind him, and then handed a cash gift to the group, instructing them to share it. He asked, “The governor has built schools, but you are not enrolling your children. What is the problem?”
**What response did the Fulani group give and what was the follow‑up?**
The guards replied that they were still searching for a suitable school. Shettima pointed to a nearby institution where their children and younger siblings could be registered. Governor Zulum assured them that the state would remove any obstacles to enrolment.
**What did the vice president say after leaving?**
Shettima posted on Facebook, “I reunited with my Fullo cousins, who are entrusted with the safety and security of Kashim Ibrahim University Teaching Hospital, in Maiduguri today. How I’ve missed their warmth, wit and good‑natured banter!”
**Why is the visit significant for the region?**
The commissioning of KIUTH and the new schools represents a major investment in health and education for a region long affected by insecurity. By directly engaging community members, the vice president underscored the government’s commitment to ensuring that infrastructure translates into tangible benefits for families.
The event illustrates the broader Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to embed lasting social gains through health and education projects, thereby boosting economic productivity and fostering recovery in conflict‑affected areas.