… As Top naval official urges youths to embrace education, shun quick wealth***

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in collaboration with the Bankers Committee, on Saturday, sensitized traders and consumers at Tejuosho Market on how to conduct eNaira transactions.

Traders in wear, shoes, and kitchen items, among other commodities, were encouraged to open the eNaira wallet as the easiest way to buy goods and carry out other services.

Also read: Building new refineries is key to meeting domestic demands – Ex-CBN director

Speaking at the sensitization exercise, the Brand Ambassador for eNaira, Gabriel Afolayan, urged Nigerians to accept the CBN digital currency as it was “a very good platform for customers and buyers.”

“eNaira is the way to go now because a lot of people don’t want to move around with liquid cash.

“It’s mainly for people that are into business because sometimes even when you order for stuff and the money doesn’t get delivered on time, eNaira will solve that problem with just sharing code between the buyer and the seller as well.

“So right now, in 2022 and beyond, eNaira is the way to go; that is the easiest way to buy stuff without having to look at your back that you have somebody who wants to steal from you.

“All you need to do is just communicate with who you’re transacting with, and once you share your barcode, business is solved,” he said.

Afolayan, an Actor and a Singer, however, said the acceptability of eNaira in the movie industry was progressing slowly, promising to take the message to the rest.

“The acceptability is a gradual thing and I think by starting from now, we’ll take the gospel to the rest; and like I said, it’s a big world now, it’s a global village.

“Mostly, a lot of people deal with cryptocurrencies and other stuff, so this is our own version (eNaira) of it.

It’s safer and it’s the best for now.

“So, as a movie person, I think representing eNaira is one of those things that will get the message to the rest of us. So, I’m imploring everybody to be on board with the naira,” he said.

He urged people to go to the play store and apple store to download the app, saying it was not complicated, but rather easy to operate, just like a one-speed dial.

Some of the traders who spoke on the initiative, commended the apex bank for introducing eNaira, saying that it would help in solving the long wait experienced in transferring cash.

They promised that they would take the message to their colleagues who were absent.

The newsmen report that the apex bank on Friday took the sensitization train to Balogun Market, in spite of the heavy downpour and were also praised by some traders.

eNaira is a CBN digital currency issued and regulated by the apex bank, denominated in naira.

It serves as both a medium of exchange and a store of value, and it is said to offer better payment prospects in retail transactions when compared to cash.

In another development, Rear Adm. Jason Gbasa, Chief of Administration, Naval Headquarters Abuja, has urged young people to embrace education, as the sure way for a better life, not the quick wealth syndrome in the society.

The Senior Naval Officer gave the advice on Sunday in Igbedi Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa, during the funeral of his mother-in-law, Mrs. Margaret Pere.

Gbasa said that quick money did not last in any way and that youths should embrace education as the sure and legitimate way to achieve greatness.

He said the youth should not turn their back on wise counsel, because it would never disappoint them.

The Chief of Administration said youths must listen to counsel, either from the community or elders because anyone that did not have it had missed the way.

Gbasa said quick wealth would not last but could destroy easily, and that one could not make it overnight, adding that it would only take a process of hard work to make one to be influential in society.

On his late mother-in-law, he said she meant a lot to him, as he described her as his public relations officer.

“While I want to shy away from publicity, she will boast about her son-in-law.

She always provides and supplies my kitchen with fresh palm produce, fufu, both in Lagos and Abuja.

“She was a prayer warrior, my intercessor, she always kneels and calls on God on my behalf for safety and prosperity.

“There was a personal relationship between me, and the children; we will surely miss her, she was a special woman to all that came in contact with her.

“Another thing I admire about her is her honesty, she was very blunt in all she does, very straightforward.

“She was not diplomatic when she sees a thing, she says it the way it is, if you get angry that’s your own, but the next day she comes and laughs again.

But when she sees something wrong she still says it,” he said.

Gbasa said she played a major role in his career, and that her experience led to his success.

On her part, the first daughter and the wife of Chief of Administration Naval Headquarters, Mrs. Ebinipre Gbasa, described her mother as a very straightforward person and caring mother to all around her.

She described her as a unifying factor to the whole family.