I have never really given a thought about whose face deserved to grace the currency of my country Nigeria but I have frowned at some of the faces on it. This is because they didn't contribute much to the unity of the country as most of them were warlords.
They may have joined in the fight for the country's independence from colonialism but some of them soiled their hands and contributed to the the first ever civil war in Nigeria which claimed the lives of thousands of people. So they by no way deserve to have a place in the country's currency.
To be on a country's currency is a great honour and task thus care must be taken in choosing whose face should be on them. This is because those faces represent what our country stand for.
Past, Present and Future Aspiration of the country
First of all I think it should go to extraordinary people in the country that have achieved great feat in life. I am talking about the people like the likes of Pro Oluyinka Olutoye and the two other female Nigerian doctors who were among the team that were the first people to successfully separate a conjoined twins in America thus lifting Nigeria's image in the international community. Their faces deserved to be in one of our country's currencies.
Nigeria's currency consist of both naira notes and naira coins. The naira notes have about eight denominations and each of them are graced with different faces. The coins are no exception too. So another group of people that I will love them to grace the face of our currencies are any picture of women from the Aba women's riot that took place in the year 1929. This riot was titled the women's war and it took months before they were suppressed. It is a powerful feminist movement of equality and women liberation in which every nation should stand and emulate. These women came out in group to speak in one voice and it was one popular riot that remained in the history of Nigeria.
Another on my list is Dr Philip Emekwali. He is being referred to as the Bill gate of father. He designed the program and formula for the fastest computer on earth. His achievement is quiet commendable and he deserved to be celebrated on our currency.
Last but not the least are the pioneers that were at the forefront of Nigerian independence. The likes of Nnamdi Azikiwe and others that didn't soil their hands or have hands in the civil war that took place in the country.
The reason why I choose these people are because we need people of estimable character to represent the values of our country. We need people that we will be happy and proud to talk to our children about their achievements because surely they will ask us about the faces on our currencies. Hearing their stories and all of their achievements will definitely inspire them to be the best in any field they find themselves.
