Hausa Ajami/Islamic Inscriptions Removed From New N100 Note

It would be recalled that on November 12, the Federal Government has unveiledthe new design for the N100 commemorative centenary banknote. The‘first digital banknote in the world’ will be officially issued on December 19.

Mr. Jari, in his opinion piece entitled“Controversial changes on the centenary N100 note”, critically reviews a specific but subtle change introduced to the design.


“The Arabic writing in Hausa language (the Ajami script) that read“Naira Dari” ['a hundred naira']on the N100 note has been removed,”Mr. Jari observes.“Just like the N200, and above, the former N100 note used to have the Arabic-Hausa Writing in the left lower part of the note.

“In 2009, when the paper naira notes of lower denominations were replaced by polymer ones, the Ajami Hausa-Arabic writing was removed for no reason. This development was controversial and ill-termed.

“Some argue that the Ajami writing was a symbol of religion of Islam, and, since Nigeria is a secular country, there is no need to show any religious paraphernalia on its currency. But if that is the case, why do we have writings in English? Why is it that there are inscriptions in other languages, like Yoruba and Igbo on the currency? Is it that Nigeria belongs to them?

“The Ajami writing was purposely meant to enable Hausa and other tribes that had learnt Arabic long before English to read the currency. As English came to Nigeria through the South, so Arabic came to Nigeria through the North.

“I want to call on Nigeria government and all its ministries, departments and agencies to make a thorough research before implementing innovations. Government programs are supposed to be useful and accepted by people.”