Money isn’t just a currency, a means of paying bills, or notes we spend at shopping malls. Its essence transcends beyond this into being a means of storytelling, a way to identify and tell people’s cultural, political and economic standing. It is also a good tool to tell historical stories of people who once walked this path, toiled the earth and contributed immensely to what we call a country. Take the 5 Naira note, for instance.
Since its introduction in 1979, it has evolved beyond just a medium of exchange. Let's delve into the history, design, and significance of this banknote.
The Face of the 5 Naira Note: Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa
On the front of the five Naira note, you’ll find the engraved portrait of Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Nigeria’s first Prime Minister.
The True Biography Of Sir Abubakar Tafawa balewa
A dominant figure of Nigerian Independence, he was a conservative Anglophile. Balewa's portrait was placed on the 5 Naira Note. Balewa was described as modest and self-effacing. At his death, his major assets included his house in Bauchi and a 50-acre farm where he vacationed when he wanted to relax. The farm was located on the way to Tafawa Balewa village about nine miles outside Bauchi; many official decisions while in office were taken at the farm.
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Early Life and Education
Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was born in the village of Tafawa Balewa in Lere district of Bauchi province, Northern Nigeria Protectorate, in December 1912. He is the eldest child. His father was Yakubu Dan Zalla, who married a Fulani woman, Fatima Inna. Balewa studied in a Madrasa at Bauchi before proceeding to an elementary school in Tafawa Balewa village and completed at Bauchi Government Provincial School.
He studied at Katsina Higher College (presently called Barewa College) from 1928 to 1932 and became a secondary school teacher thereafter. In 1944 he became the headmaster of Bauchi middle school. After two years, he moved to the University of London Institute of Education, where he obtained an overseas teacher's certificate.
Political Career
Born in 1912 in Tafawa Balewa, Bauchi State, Abubakar’s journey to politics began in an unconventional way. He was initially trained as a teacher and became one of the first Northern Nigerians to study at the London University Institute of Education in 1945.
Returning to Nigeria, he worked as Bauchi native authority educational assistant and a member of the advisory council of Emir Yakubu III. Balewa was elected to the Central Legislative Council in 1947 after local authorities accepted the public's declaration that he should be the representative of Bauchi at the Northern House of Assembly. By 1947, he was elected to the Northern Region’s House of Assembly. In the early 1950s, the British governor-general, John Macpherson, introduced electoral college system, hence, in 1951, the Northern People's Congress (NPC) was established. Balewa was a member.
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Abubakar was a founding member of the Northern People’s Congress (NPC), serving as its deputy president until his death. In 1952 he moved to Lagos as a member of the central house of representatives, and became minister of works. When the 1954 federal constitution was established, Balewa was selected as one of the three northern members of the council of ministers. He also served as the minister of transportation.
His political influence reached its pinnacle when he was appointed Prime Minister in 1957, and he remained in office after Nigeria’s independence in 1960. In 1957, NPC won the plurality of votes in the Federal House of Representatives and Balewa became the Chief Minister and designated Prime Minister. As part of his plans to unify the country towards the move for independence in 1960, he formed a coalition government between the NPC and the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC), led by Nnamdi Azikiwe and also invited the Action Group (A.G.), the 1957 cabinet was constituted as an all party cabinet.
Premiership and Legacy
Prior to Nigeria's independence, a constitutional conference in 1954 had adopted a regional political framework for the country, with all regions given a considerable amount of political freedom. As Prime Minister of Nigeria, Balewa played important roles in the continent's formative indigenous rule. He was an important leader in the formation of the Organisation of African Unity and creating a cooperative relationship with French speaking African countries. He had an enormous amount of respect for President John F. Balewa had a pro-West orientation in his foreign policy, which represented for abhorrence to USSR and other Eastern Bloc states.
Balewa was overthrown and murdered in a military coup on 15 January 1966, as were many other leaders, including his old companion Sir Ahmadu Bello. The circumstances of his death still remain unresolved. His body was discovered at a roadside near Lagos six days after he was ousted from office. Balewa was buried in Bauchi.
In 1933, Balewa wrote Shaihu Umar, a novella about a pious Muslim in response to a request by Rupert East, the head of the colonial Translation Bureau, to promote Hausa literature. Balewa advocated for the creation of a Nigerian Privy Council to domestically replace the Privy Council of the United Kingdom in a speech to the Legislative Council in April 1952.
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The Reverse Side: Nkpokiti Dancers
At the back of the five Naira note are the Nkpokiti dancers from South Eastern Nigeria.
Evolution of the 5 Naira Note
The five Naira note has undergone several transformations.
- Originally printed on paper - without the portrait of a Nigerian citizen - when it was introduced in 1973.
- It underwent a design update in 1979 with the portrait of Abubakar on it.
- In 1984, it maintained the portrait of Abubakar while adopting a new colour scheme.
- Then, in 2007, Nigeria made a significant step towards combating wear and tear as well as counterfeiting by introducing polymer currency.
This authentic Central Bank-issued banknote is demonetized and carries no monetary value. This uncirculated 5 Nigerian naira polymer note is dated 2021 and signed by Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele and Director of Currency Operations Ahmed Bello Umar. Its obverse side portrays Prime Minister Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and the bank logo. Its reverse side shows the map of Nigeria, four Nkpokiti dancers, and the Nigerian coat of arms. Though the note does not have a security thread, it has a CBN watermark.
The Nigerian naira notes are the official banknotes of Nigeria, the currency of which is the Nigerian naira (NGN). The naira is subdivided into 100 kobo. The history of Nigerian naira notes dates back to the introduction of the currency on 1 January 1973. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is responsible for issuing and regulating the circulation of Naira notes.
Other Nigerian Naira Notes
The design of Nigerian naira notes is a blend of artistic representation and cultural heritage. The notes typically showcase notable Nigerian landmarks, historical figures, wildlife, and significant events. Incorporated within the design are various security features, such as holographic strips, watermarking, and microprinting, to deter counterfeiting.
Here's a quick look at some other Nigerian Naira notes and the figures they feature:
| Denomination | Main Figure | Additional Details |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Naira | Alvan Ikoku | Notable for his contributions to education in Nigeria. The reverse side features two women carrying calabashes atop their heads, emblematic of northern Nigerian culture. |
| 20 Naira | Gen. Murtala Mohammed | Served as Nigeria's Head of State between 1975-1976. The back of the note features Ladi Kwali, a famous potter. |
| 50 Naira | Four individuals in attire representing Nigeria's diverse cultures | The reverse side showcases three fishermen engaged in their labor. Named "WAZOBIA," a fusion of Nigeria's major languages, the note encapsulates linguistic unity. |
| 100 Naira | Chief Obafemi Awolowo | Served as a premier of the western region. |
| 200 Naira | Sir Ahmadu Bello | The first premier for the Northern region of Nigeria, he served from 1954 to 1966. |
| 500 Naira | Nnamdi Azikiwe | Nigeria's first president after achieving independence. |
| 1000 Naira | Aliyu Mai Bornu and Clement Isong | Aliyu Mai Bornu (1919-1970) and Clement Isong are prominent figures featured on this note. |
Recently Central bank of Nigeria (CBN ) was instructed to change the 200, 500 and 1000 naira notes. Well nothing much was changed, just the colors of the money. The images in the old notes are still there.
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