20 NAIRA NOTE, NIGERIAN'S OLDEST PAPER CURRENCY IS MARKING IT'S 41 YEARS OF EXISTENCE.

Since gaining independence from Britain on october1,1960, Nigeria has over and over changed her legal tender. The nation's legal tender was first changed on first July 1962 and was later changed in 1968 as a war procedure to keep Biafrian authorities from utilizing the nation's currency. On 31th March, 1971, the then head of state, General Yakubu Gowon, announced in his budget that Nigeria would convert to decimal money as from first January 1973 and Nigeria's currency changed to Naira and Kobo.

On February 11, 1977, the military administration of Obasanjo introduced a new banknote domination to mark a fresh start for the nation. As at that time the Twenty Naira note was the highest value of Naira in the nation. The issuance of this note was required by the development of wages/income of Nigeria.

High preference for money transactions and the requirement for comfort likewise constrained the government to take this choice. This cash not only was it the first paper note in Nigeria it was likewise the first money in Nigeria to have faces of indigenous individuals. Both side of the note have portraits of late General Murtala Ramat Muhammad (1938-1976) and Hajiya (Dr.) Hadiza Kwali, an acclaimed pottery from Gwari Abuja.

General Murtala Muhammad was born in Kano on November 8, 1938. He went to Barewa school in Zaria. He started his military preparation in 1959 and was appointed in the armed force as a second lieutenant in 1961. He later turned into the military ruler(Head of the Federal Military Government) of Nigeria from 1975 until the point that he was killed in 1976. He ruled Nigeria from July 30, 1975 to February 13, 1976 making him the fourth Head of state in Nigeria.

late General Murtala Ramat Muhammad

On the other hand, Hajiya (Dr.) Hadiza Ladi Kwali was born in 1925 at Gwari, Northern Nigeria. As a youngster, Ladi learnt the customary art of pottery utilizing a strategy referred to as "coiling and pinching".she was an expert pot Marker whose abilities got the consideration of the Queen of England. In 1962, kwali was awarded Member of the order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1962 by the Queen Elizabeth the second for her phenomenal pot making skills.

Hajiya (Dr.) Hadiza Ladi Kwali

The Nigerian Government additionally contributed on her with the badge of the Nigeria National order of Merit Awards (NNOM) in 1980. This honor is the most elevated national honour for academic accomplishment in the country.

Till date, twenty naira note is one of the most used naira division in Nigeria, generally by the low-class. In spite of the fact that value in recent times is worth petty things like sachet water, chewing gum, pencil among other couple of things, it is also valuable to make change and in some few states in Nigeria, it is still utilized as transport charge.

First generation of 20 Naira notes in Nigeria

Second generation of 20 Naira notes in Nigeria

Third generation and current design of 20 Naira notes in Nigeria

The green note which has a similar family colour with the american dollars is marking it's 41years of existence making it Nigerian's most oldest paper cash.