Mustapha Shettima
2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: Promoting Community-based Reintegration to Counter Violent Extremism in Borno StateNigeria
Mustapha Shettima is an alumnus of the 2021 International Visitors Leadership Program and the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the community-led organization Community Resilience and Sustainable Development Initiative. He is a humanitarian and development practitioner with over 10 years of programming experience in governance, peacebuilding, countering violent extremism, gender equality, conflict sensitivity, and resilience projects.
Shettima currently works in the non-profit sector, which has allowed him to positively impact the lives of many vulnerable men, women, and children in different parts of Nigeria. His work primarily focuses on his home region of Northeast Nigeria, which is heavily affected by terrorist groups such as Jama’atul Ahalul Sunna Lidda’awati Waljihad and the Islamic State in West African Province, otherwise known as Boko Haram.
He has been actively involved in several humanitarian aid and developmental projects in Nigeria and the Northeastern region. In addition to several certifications, Shettima also has a post graduate degree in management and finance and a bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of Maiduguri. In 2021, a publication in his home region, the Northeast Star magazine, recognized Shettima as the Best Humanitarian of the Year.
IVLP Impact Award Project: Promoting Community-based Reintegration to Counter Violent Extremism in Borno State
This project supported the reconciliation and reintegration of repentant violent extremists in Shehuri Host Community of Maiduguri in Borno State, Nigeria. The project focused on this community because of the significant proportion of returnees, high degree of community tension, and influx of displaced people. 204 individuals participated in the project to reduce the risk of future radicalization due to stigma and marginalization by community members. As a result, 100 repentant Boko Haram members were positively supported after their reintegration into society.
"I have learned a lot from the several mentoring sessions I attended, and this has equipped me with relevant skills to be an agent of peace in my community." -Project Participant
IVLP Exchange Experience
Mustapha was a participant in the IVLP Project Countering Violent Extremism - Community Strategies, organized by the U.S. Department of State and Meridian International Center.
Mustapha's exchange experience led to the development of his IVLP Impact Award Project: "Through the online IVLP, I made friends with Ms. Golicha from Kenya and Mr. Antonio Da Luz from Mozambique. My participation in the program has enabled me to further develop my skills and improve my expertise in countering violent extremism. After due consultation with my community members, I have been able to develop a project that can help reduce the risk of radicalization in my home state."
U.S. Communities Visited Virtually
Los Angeles, CA; Washington, DC; Detroit, MI; Madison, WI