Naira Notes: The 1 Naira Note

Along with the 50 kobo note, the 1 naira note was withdrawn in October 1991 and replaced with coins. The note was first issued on January 1, 1973, and then on 2nd July 1979.

The second 1 naira note bears the portrait of Sir Herbert Macaulay and at the back is an image of the Benin hip pendant mask: Iyoba, dated back to the 16th century. Sir Macaulay was a politician, engineer, architect, journalist and musician. He had a distaste for the British rule and exposed their corrupt practices. During his time, he founded the Nigerian National Democratic Party, which was founded on June 24, 1923, and was Nigeria’s first political party.

Sir Macaulay, 14 November 1864 – 7 May 1946, also comes from a background of notable pedigree. His father was Thomas Babington Macaulay who was the founder of the first secondary school in Nigeria, the CMS Grammar School, Lagos. His mother was Abigail Crowther, the daughter of the renowned Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther, the first African bishop of the Niger Territory. But greatness did not end with Herbert Macaulay; he is the great grandfather of Dr Ameyo Stella Adadevoh who is credited with having kerbed a wider spread of the deadly Ebola virus in Nigeria, in 2014.

Did you also know, Herbert Macaulay was the first Nigerian to own a motor car?

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nnenna

Nnenna is an editor and writer at Connect Nigeria. She loves fine art, books and places.

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