Abba Gana SHETTIMA was born in the Monguno Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria in 1962. Since 1986, he has worked as a lecturer at the University of Maiduguri and is now a Senior Lecturer in Rural Sociology with responsibilities for teaching both undergradute and Graduate students.

His research interest includes Gender and the Environment, Resource Conflict in semi-arid regions, Land tenure issues and the application of participatory methods and tools in rural research and development work. He has also done research and consultancy work on particatory research and training for the British Department of International Development(DFID) in Nigeria. He has conducted research for the Macarthur Foundation Fund Leadership Development, the Social Science Council of Nigeria and so on.

He has attended several conferences, training workshops and seminars both nationally and internationally. He attended the Gender Institute organized and funded by the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA)in Dakar-Senegal in 1995, an International Workshop on Reproductive Health, Rights and Womens Empowerment in Kerala India in 1996(funded by the Macarthur Foundation, Chicago) and the United Nations University International Leadership Academy(UNUILA)in 1998. At both national and international Conferences, he has presented several academic papers. He has published several papers in both national and International Journals including AFRICA DEVELOPMENT and THE JOURNAL OF TROPICL PEADETRICS.

He was educated at the Government Secondary School, Nguru where he obtained the West African School Certificate (First Division) in 1980. He then proceeded to the University of Maiduguri in 1981 and graduated in 1985 with a Bachelors Degree in Sociology and Anthroplogy (First Class Honours). Mr.Shettima also attended Nigerias Premier University, the University of Ibadan, and obtained a Masters Degree in Agricultural Extension Services in 1988.

Degree in Sociology and Anthroplogy (First Class Honours). Mr.Shettima also attended Nigerias Premier University, the University of Ibadan, and obtained a Masters Degree in Agricultural Extension Services in 1988. He is presently registered as a Doctoral candidate at the same University and working on a thesis entitled: 'Environmental Degradation and CiviL Conflict: A case Studyof the Relationship Between Farmers and Pastoralists in North-Eastern Nigeria'.