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The Imperative of Emefiele’s International Recognition on Nigeria’s Economy

By Solomon Semaka
In the Christian Holy Book, Jesus is quoted to have said to the people of his hometown of Nazareth after they failed to recognise his messianic message of the sonship of God that a prophet is not without honour, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his household.’ (cf Mark 6: 4, English Standard Version). The people of this little town could not believe that the little boy that grew up with them, whose parents they also knew very well could become so powerful, wise and knowledgeable about the law and scriptures like Jesus did. The elders felt they should be the ones teaching him and not the other way around. Even in our homes and offices, we trivialize people’s talents and skills because they come from certain places or are of a certain age or religion. It is also common for people to refuse to accept even the most seasoned technocrat’s leadership because of political party affiliation, tribe and even religious or gender consideration. This analogy can be likened to the case of a great financial wizard and technocrat of the Nigerian banking system in the person of Chief Godwin Emefiele, the indefatigable Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The global Banking and Financial Community over the years has been keenly observing and documenting his numerous pioneering achievements and technological innovations in the Nigerian banking system and the Central Bank of Nigeria. Little wonder, on Thursday, 13th October 2022 at the Willard Intercontinental Hotel, Washington DC, the Foreign Investment Network (FIN), organizers of the *Euroknowledge* Award For Digital Transformation conferred on the astute financial Wizard, the
‘Euroknowledge Africa Most Innovative Digital Transformation Governor of the Year Award for 2022. This more than ever before calls for genuine celebration and indeed Nigerians who are conversant with the modest yet transformational works Chief Emefiele was doing for the Nigerian economy are in great jubilation and rolling out the red carpet for him.
Chief Godwin Emefiele is no doubt a giant in the area of banking innovations. He is a pioneer not just in Nigerian banking but in Africa and indeed the world at large. The CBN under Emefiele has emerged as a pace-setter in the payments system with pioneering efforts in Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). This is the first of its kind and a marvel even to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank who have shown interest and are eager to key into the innovative policy, a brain child of the Central Bank of Nigeria under Godwin Emiefele. This digital currency popularly called e-Naira has clocked one year since its launch with many financial benefits to justify it’s sustainability.
Before the emergence of Emefiele, many Nigerians were ‘unbanked’ and had no access to financial and banking services, especially in rural areas. The CBN under Chief Emefiele changed that narrative and also deepened options for digital payments by licensing many Micro-Financial companies to deliver services to the grassroots. The CBN also licensed Mobile Money Agents that made it possible for Nigerians everywhere to seamlessly operate wallets on their phones, and receive and send money without any hassles. The multiplier effect of this on the economy is unquantifiable.
The CBN had, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic saved Nigeria from going into a terrible recession even when almost the whole world was on its knees and barely struggling to keep their economies afloat. The innovative financial management techniques and approaches used by the CBN through the AGMESIS loan scheme for SMEs and Households which stimulated local production helped save the economy. Not just that, the CBN through the able and visionary leadership of Chief Emefiele extended more stimulus packages to youths through the NYSC scheme, manufacturers and other stakeholders, the Nigerian economy did not succumb to the global recession that visited other countries. Nigerians of goodwill across all divides are grateful for this financial mastery of a Nigerian son and patriot who is now receiving international awards with reckless abandon.
Through the financial foresight and determination of the CBN Governor and keeping to the cashless policy of the CBN, Point of Sale Terminals (POS) is spread across the length and breadth of the country. Before now, only in banks could one find POS. With a secured payment system and a robust system for lodging complaints in various financial institutions and other licensed payment agents, POS operators are smiling daily to the bank with their patrons saving many man-hours that were previously wasted queuing in banking halls and bank ATM machines. Apart from the hundreds of thousands of people employed as POS vendors, the deployment of POS and their seeming availability in all shops, schools, churches, fueling stations, motor parks and even in the remotest villages has eased payments and facilitated trade all over the country.
Nigeria has become a hub for direct foreign investments in Nigeria because of the ease of doing business facilitated by the legendary financial wizard. The number of investors indicating interest in the Nigerian business environment especially the financial sector and those already doing business in Nigeria is a confirmation of the fact that Nigeria under Emefiele is a fertile ground for secured and profitable investments. With a secured payment system and a friendly forex regime, investors have nothing to fear as can be seen from the number of new investors choosing the Nigerian destination from all over the world. Nigeria’s economy is indeed growing and history will forever be kind to Chief Emefiele for his innovative financial management skills and prowess.
The CBN in conjunction with the Nigerian InterBank Settlement System (NIBSS) and the Bankers Committee set to float a National Card Scheme to improve the payment system in Nigeria. The project which has already received approval and the nod of all stakeholders is the brainchild of the CBN under Chief Godwin Emefiele. The National Domestic Card scheme is created to help drive acceptance and efficiency and reduce the operating cost of cards in the country. It is configured to address the unique ecosystem that we have to help improve payment across the nation with lower charges. This local content is at its peak with features that support micro-payment and credit, e-government, identity management, transportation, the health sector and agriculture in terms of payment. This and many other innovative solutions are the things the ‘little boy of Nazareth’ is doing that many people do not want to recognize.
As the global world recognizes and honours Chief Godwin Emefiele, it is high time we rally around him and give him our utmost support. It is noteworthy to commend Mr. President for the confidence he has reposed in the financial technocrat in driving the economy. With the ideas and international experience of Chief Emefiele, Nigeria’s banking and financial sector will soon become a rallying point globally.
Rev Solomon Semaka is the Convener Save Nigeria Movement
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Starship to leave for Mars at end of 2026 – Elon Musk

Elon Musk has announced an ambitious timeline for SpaceX’s Mars mission, revealing that the company’s massive Starship rocket is set to depart for the Red Planet at the end of 2026. The mission will include Tesla’s humanoid robot, Optimus, as part of the spacecraft’s payload.
“If those landings go well, then human landings may start as soon as 2029, although 2031 is more likely,” Musk posted on his social media platform, X.
The Starship rocket—considered the world’s most powerful—is central to Musk’s long-term vision of colonizing Mars. However, significant technical hurdles remain before this dream becomes reality.
NASA is also counting on a modified version of Starship to serve as the lunar lander for its Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon this decade. But before SpaceX can proceed with interplanetary travel, it must demonstrate that Starship is safe, reliable, and capable of complex in-orbit refueling—an essential requirement for deep space missions.
SpaceX recently encountered a setback when the latest test flight of Starship ended in an explosion. While the booster was successfully caught in its orbital test, the upper stage failed, tumbling out of control before the live feed abruptly cut. The incident mirrored a previous attempt.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has mandated an investigation before Starship can fly again, adding another layer of scrutiny to SpaceX’s ambitious timeline.
Despite these challenges, Musk remains optimistic, continuing to push forward toward his goal of making humanity a multi-planetary species.
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Obi donates N20m to Colleges of Nursing in Ahiara and Ihiala

The 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has donated N20 million to two Colleges of Nursing Sciences in Imo and Anambra States. The beneficiaries are Holy Rosary College of Nursing, Ogbe, in Ahiara Catholic Diocese, Mbaise, and College of Nursing Sciences, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Ihiala.
Obi, a former Governor of Anambra State, presented N10 million cheques to each institution during his visits on Friday. At the Holy Rosary College of Nursing, he handed over the cheque to the Bishop of Ahiara Diocese, Most Rev Simeon Nwobi, at the college’s construction site. Similarly, at Our Lady of Lourdes, Ihiala, he presented the donation to the Students’ Union Government (SUG) President, Miss Anigbo Chisom Mary, in the presence of excited students.
Highlighting the significance of his donation, Obi stressed that healthcare and education are critical to national development. He commended the Catholic Diocese of Ahiara for investing in nursing education, describing it as a vital step in securing Nigeria’s future.
“My Lords, what you are doing is a great service to our country,” Obi said. “This donation is not a favour but a recognition of your efforts in nation-building. I will always support this project because it is about securing a better future for Nigeria.”
Obi further urged the government to prioritize quality education, including the prompt payment of teachers’ salaries. He emphasized the need for free and accessible education at the primary and secondary levels, both in public and private schools.
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Tinubu’s administration not running govt in secrecy — AGF Fagbemi

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, SAN, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to transparency, stating that government affairs will no longer be conducted in secrecy.
Speaking at a Stakeholders’ Town Hall Meeting on the Application of the Freedom of Information Act (FoIA) in Awka, Anambra State, Fagbemi urged Nigerians to use the Act to demand accountability from their elected and appointed officials. The event was organized by the Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Justice.
Represented by Garba Sunday, a lawyer in the ministry’s FoIA department, Fagbemi emphasized that the FoI Act empowers citizens to access government records and information without providing reasons for their request. He encouraged public officeholders to disclose their activities to foster trust and dispel rumors.
“The Act also provides for people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups to access government records. However, while the law guarantees access to information, there are exemptions and conditions that must be met before certain records can be released,” Fagbemi stated.
He commended the Anambra State government for actively implementing the Act, allowing citizens to stay informed about governance. He further called on Nigerians to exercise their right to information and participate in governance, adding that transparency leads to good governance.
“We appreciate the efforts of organizations like Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) and CTA for making this town hall meeting possible. The purpose of the FoI Act is to promote **transparency, accountability, and good governance—**not to be used as a tool for blackmail or political attacks,” he added.
In her remarks, CTA Executive Director, Faith Nwadishi, lamented that many Nigerians remain unaware of their rights under the FoI Act, despite its enactment over 14 years ago.
“The Act allows citizens, including women, youth, and people with disabilities (PWDs), to track budgets, monitor government programs, and expose corruption. However, those who passed the law have done little to educate the public about its importance,” she stated.
Nwadishi highlighted that the town hall meeting aimed to empower marginalized groups to use the FoI Act in holding government institutions accountable. She also noted the work of the Strengthening Accountability and Governance in Nigeria Initiative (SAGNI) in promoting transparency in the Federal Capital Territory, Anambra State, and Edo State.
As calls for transparency and accountability grow louder, stakeholders emphasized the need for public institutions to proactively disclose information and for Nigerians to actively demand their rights, ensuring that governance remains open and inclusive.
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