After an early career in medicine, local administration, and media, Mustafa studied agriculture at university, eventually earning a Doctor of Philosophy degree.
[3] Shettima Mustafa was appointed a commissioner in the Borno State government under Governor Mohammed Goni.
[2] He rose steadily in the political ranks and was vice-presidential candidate on the Nigerian People's Party platform in the 1983 election.
[2] In August 1990, Shettima Mustafa was appointed Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources, holding that post until the cabinet dissolved in 1992.
[4] Following this, he became an advisor to various local and international organisations, and became the national treasurer of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), a position he held between 1998 and 2001.
[5] He was chair of the Presidential Visitation Panel to the University of Agriculture in 1999,[6] and chairman of Savannah Bank from April 2000 to August 2001.