CBN Launches Naira Ambassadors Club to Promote Respect for National Currency
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso, has launched the Naira Ambassadors Club in Abuja, urging Nigerians to protect the integrity of the national currency and end practices that damage banknotes.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Cardoso warned that the abuse, mutilation and improper handling of the naira significantly increase the cost of replacing damaged notes, placing avoidable financial burdens on the country.
As part of the initiative, 175 students drawn from seven schools were inaugurated as pioneer members of the club. The CBN governor described young Nigerians as powerful agents of change capable of promoting responsible currency handling within their homes, schools and communities.
He encouraged the students to champion awareness campaigns against practices such as writing on banknotes, stapling them, mutilating them, or spraying cash at social events, noting that such actions reduce the lifespan of the currency and undermine its value.
Cardoso stressed that preserving the naira is a shared responsibility and called on citizens to treat the national currency with dignity and respect.
Also speaking at the event, CBN Deputy Governor, Emem Usoro, said enforcement measures alone would not be enough to address the problem of currency abuse.
According to her, lasting behavioural change can only be achieved through education, public awareness and the promotion of positive values among young people.
“Sustainable change must come through education, awareness and the cultivation of positive values from an early age,” Usoro said.
The Naira Ambassadors Club is expected to serve as a platform for educating students on the importance of safeguarding the national currency while encouraging responsible financial and civic behaviour among future generations.
CBN Launches Naira Ambassadors Club to Promote Respect for National Currency