New N50 note for Nigeria’s 50th independence anniversary

By Eromo Egbejule,
WorldNewsVine, Nigeria

Nigeria will celebrate her 50th Independence anniversary with a new N50 note bearing the celebration’s logo. This was announced by Yayale Ahmed, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, announced on Thursday in Abuja.

Mr. Ahmed, who was represented by the Director General of Nigeria at 50, Baba Kaigama, said the new note would be launched alongside commemorative coins. He said President Goodluck Jonathan will give out the coins as souvenirs for visitors and the new N50 will be launched for public use on September 29, 2010. The redesigned N50 commemorative note and the non-circulation coins will be launched by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as part of activities to mark the event, Mr. Ahmed said. Both the current and new N50 notes will be in circulation until the CBN decides whether it will replace the current notes.

Part of the programmes developed for the celebration include an anniversary lecture, a youth parliament, a special Argungu fishing festival and motor rally. The launching of a compendium on Nigeria, a food week, the commissioning of the Independence tower, a seminar on women and children, a presidential banquet and conferment of national honours on 50 distinguished Nigerians as well as a Miss Nigeria pageant. There will also be a church service on September 26, 2010 at the National Christian Centre and Jum’mat prayers at the National Mosque.

The anniversary event will be rounded off on October 16, with the 3rd ordinary session of the pan-African Parliament at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) headquarters, Abuja.