CBN: Emefiele’s achievements excite BALMORAL boss

By Mansur Oladunjoye

The achievement of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, in a very short period in office, has excited the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO), BALMORAL INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, company, Mr. Niyi Adegbenro.

 Adegbenro, who is a Lagos based auto dealer and entrepreneur, recently took a critical look at Emefiele’s successful reforms at the Apex bank less than one year in office and urged Nigerians to encourage CBN Governor more to be able to build on the good foundation he has mapped out.

The businessman, also commended President Goodluck Jonathan for appointing the Delta State born financial guru, and reminded that “the apex bank governor on February 14, 2014, successfully launched a centralized biometric identification system for the banking industry tagged: Bank Verification Number (BVN).”

According to Adegbenro, BVN gives every individual a unique identity, which can be verified across the Banking industry, saying the laudable policy: “will help the banking industry in various ways like reducing identity theft, fishing out blacklisted customers.”

The auto dealer, who is the first maternal grandson of the late elder statesman and front-line nationalist, Late Pa Alfred Rewane, was particularly happy with Emefiele’s achievements in the Outbound Money Transfer Service, which was launched, as part of the key initiative of the apex bank, in partnership with the Western Union Money Transfer (WUMT).

Adegbenro was also thrilled by CBN governor’s release of the commemorative N100 banknote unveiled recently by President Goodluck Jonathan, which is in circulation now.

The excited Adegbenro spoke further and stated that key Emefiele’s achievement, was the restoration of  the independent operation of the apex bank, which under Sanusi’s era was politicized and extol the CBN governor’s, ability to avoid the murky waters of Nigerian politics.

“Indeed, he has managed to keep a safe distance from controversy. So far, he has yet to make political statements. Through his calm and conservative personality Emefiele has impacted on the apex financial institution”, Adegbenro added.

“There is no gainsaying that since he took over leadership of the institution activities are generated based on professional and broad considerations not on narrow and political emotions. In other words, the CBN currently operates under the atmosphere of professionalism. To this effect, he has succeeded in making the central bank apolitical”.

According to him, there was therefore no doubt that President Jonathan must have made a good decision in the appointment of Emefiele.

“As expected the governor has quietly established a convivial working relationship with the Presidency, and similarly works closely with the fiscal authorities, a well-planned calculation being enjoyed by the bank.”