Nigeria, Sept. 22 -- Today, 22 September, Dr Ibrahim Shehu Shema, CON, FNIM, former governor of Katsina State, will mark his 69th birthday. Known for his modesty, Shema consistently avoids discussions of personal or public achievements. For that reason, I take it upon myself each year to write about him - without his prior knowledge - lest he discourage the effort.

Shema is a man of quiet disposition, a leader whose work speaks louder than words. His results introduce him, and his record continues to resonate across Nigeria. It is not uncommon to hear people from diverse backgrounds remark, "Shema performed creditably well as governor." While this is widely acknowledged, the weight of that truth struck me more deeply when I recently read...