By Dr. Jona N. Ezikpe

The CBN announced that some Naira Denominations namely: N200, N500 and N1000 notes would be redesigned. The old notes of the same denominations would be withdrawn and cease to be legal tender. They will be replaced with the newly redesigned notes. Dateline for the cessation of the old notes was initially given as 31st January, 2023 while the new notes, would begin to circulate concurrently with the old notes beginning from December 15th 2022.

By Godknows Boladei Igali

1. Nigeria’s most ranking female career diplomat, Lady Nkemjinka (Nkem) Ulaku Wadibia-Anyanwu’s recent attainment of the age of 75 years is being celebrated at large as a symbol of the sustained national service of Nigeria’s womenfolk, particularly in the world of international affairs. Ordinarily, rising to be appointed and adorned with those ubiquitous epitaphs of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary is the apogee of the diplomatic service. However, for one such as Wadibia-Anyanwu, whom many simply call “Lady” from the Catholic knighthood which she was bestowed with, the journey of toil for fatherland went beyond to the ultimate attainment of the rank of a Federal Permanent Secretary. After 35 fruitful years in the global scene, not unexpectedly, toasts and accolades emblazoned from her protégés and international contacts from the most unexpected ends of the world. For many reasons, topmost being her commitment to nationhood, commitment to service, and commitment to the highest ideals of humanistic and Godly existence.

By Bola Bolawole

Going through heaps of files, old newspapers and other records in my library a few days ago, I came across pieces of unsolicited advice I had offered mint-new President Muhammadu Buhari on how he could make a success of his tenure as the country’s fourth president circa the Fourth Republic, which started its run in 1999. One of the materials, titled “That Buhari’s anti-corruption war may not become ephemeral”, was published on 25th September, 2015 by The News, PM News, Daily Independent newspapers, among others.

By Azu Ishiekwene

Hadiza Bala Usman's new book, "Stepping on Toes," is a cautionary tale for anyone hoping to work in public service in Nigeria, particularly in the Federal Government. It's an incredible story by the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) of how to break your heart, if not your spirit, in public service.

By Simon Kolawole

There are endless peculiarities, I must here admit, about the 2023 presidential election, the least not being the outing of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). With the post-election brouhaha and hullaballoo, a cursory observer would be forgiven for thinking the February 25 poll was a two-way contest between Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP). Atiku came second with 6,984,520 votes. Therefore, whether it is Tinubu that won, as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), or Obi, as proclaimed by his supporters, Atiku is still ranked as second best.

By Bolanle Bolawole

One reason many people think the recent presidential election should be put behind us as quickly as possible is because there is a lot of work to be done and distractions are the least the country requires at this point in time. The problems bedevilling the country are many and solutions, if we must state the truth, will not come easy. Another reason is that there is sufficient enough evidence from the polls to suggest who, out of the four leading presidential candidates, was preferred by the electorate, regardless how imperfect some may deem the election to have been for, in truth, there are no perfect elections anywhere in the world.