History of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
The central bank of Nigeria is the apex (highest) bank in Nigeria. It was established in 1958 by the CBN Act and it commenced operations on July 1st 1959.
The CBN headquarter is located at Abuja, the federal capital territory of Nigeria. There are other branches across the federation.
The CBN played a major role in the financial credibility and growth of the commercial banks in Nigeria. It made sure that all the financial banks operating in the country had the required reserve (capital base) for setting up a bank.
The CBN took upon itself the responsibility to nurture the capital and money market. They did this by introducing the treasury certificate in 1960, the treasury certificate in 1968 and also facilitated the Lagos stock exchange establishment in 1961.
Objectives of the CBN
The major regulatory objectives of the central bank as written in the CBN Act include:
- External reserves maintenance.
- To improve monetary stability and a good financial environment
- Act as a financial adviser to the federal government
- To act a lender of the last resort to financial institution
Other functions of the CBN include:
- Currency regulation: they helps to maintain the circulation of money in the economy
- They helps to control credit
- They are the custodians of commercial banks cash reserves
- They are also in custody of foreign exchange reserves management
- The CBN is saddled with the responsibility of managing domestic debt
- Control and supervision of other banks
- The CBN sets interest rate to control inflation and stabilize economic growth
- It is the sole body responsible for indigenous currency production
Below is the list of past leaders of the CBN since it was established
| S/N | Names | Resumed date | Retired date |
| 1 | Roy Pentelow Fenton | 24th July,1958 | 24 July,1963 |
| 2 | Alhaji Aliyu Mai-Bornu | 25th July,1963 | 22nd June,1967 |
| 3 | Dr. Clement Nyong Isong | 15th August,1972 | 24th September,1975 |
| 4 | Mallam Adamu Ciroma | 24th September,1975 | 28th June,1977 |
| 5 | Mr. O. Ola. Vincent | 28th June,1977 | 28th June,1982 |
| 6 | Alahji Abdulkadir Ahmed | 28th June,1982 | 30th September,1993 |
| 7 | Dr. Paul Agbai Ogwuma | 1st October,1993 | 29th May,1999 |
| 8 | Chief (Dr.) Joseph Oladele Sanusi, CON | 29th May,1999 | 29th May.2004 |
| 9 | Prof. Chukwuma C. Soludo, CFR | 29th May,2004 | 28th May,2009 |
| 10 | Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi | 4th June,2009 | 2nd June,2014 |
| 11 | Mr. Godwin Emefiele, CON | 3rd June,2014 | Till present |
Mr Godwin Emefiele, CON is the 10th indigenous and current Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor.
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