NATMALC SENSITIZES MARKET WOMEN ON REDESIGNED NAIRA NOTES

Market women in Delta state, who constitute mostly retailers and petty traders in the marketing business, have been urged to key into the Naira notes redesign policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.

The President of the National Traders and Market Leaders Council of Nigeria, NATMALC, and Iyaoloja of Nigeria, Barr (Chief) Chinwe Monu-Olarewaju, made the call on Tuesday when she led the Omus of Obomkpa, Queensly Uzoka; Onicha-Uku, Theresa Uwadia; Onicha-Ugbo, Celestina Mosindi and Iyase Omu of Onicha-Ugbo, Catherine Osemeke, on a sensitization programme at the Onicha-Ugbo and Ukala-Okpuno markets in Aniocha North and Oshimili North local government areas of the state.

Chief Monu-Olarewaju, who is also the Omeogor of Asaba, said the sensitization was necessitated by the short window allowed to exchange the old Naira notes for the redesigned ones.

She noted that the organization was also apprehensive of the age long practice of keeping proceeds of daily sales in obscure places at home by most traders, expressing fears that some of the women might not be able to deposit their cash before the January 31, 2023 deadline if not encouraged to do so.

The Iyaoloja, charged the market women to be conscious of the time frame for the withdrawal of the old currency notes from circulation and start early to deposit their cash in the bank.

Chief Monu-Olarewaju, who distributed samples of the new Naira notes to the women, advised those who did not have bank accounts to contact the National Office of NATMALC at No 26, Madonna College road, Asaba, for assistance.

As part of the programme, the NATMALC President and the Omus paid a courtesy visit to the Obi of Ukala-Okpuno, Sir Evang Clement Ifeanyi Ejiofor.

She told the King that’s her organisation would not want any market woman to have her cash voided for not being able to make lodgement within the stipulated time, hence the sensitization programme.

Chief Monu-Olarewaju thanked Obi Ejiofor for the reign of peace in his community and for the cordial relationship between him and the Omu, which had made the Ukala market a convenient place for the women to do business.

In his remarks, the Ukala monarch, congratulated Chief Monu-Olarewaju on her enthronement as the Iyaoloja of Nigeria after 23 years the position had been in the Southwest and commended her for embarking on the sensitization programme to educate the traders on the need to key into the Naira notes redesign policy.

Obi Ejiofor used the opportunity to commend the State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, for the giant developmental strides of his administration and prayed God to see him through his political ambition to enable him do more for the state and the nation.