The woman behind the Twenty Naira note, Ladi Kwali, was a Nigerian potter, born in the village of Kwali in the Gwari region of Northern Nigeria. She was an exceptional and excellent potter who made beautiful potteries.

She lived all her life practising pottery craft in Kwali village of Northern Nigeria, where she caught the attention of a white man who loved her work and helped her showcase her art around the world. She was later invited to the United Kingdom, despite her informal education, to teach her art to students as an external lecturer/tutor.

Kwali was awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in 1962 and an honorary doctoral degree from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1977. In 1980, the Nigerian Government invested on her with the insignia of the Nigerian National Order of Merit Award (NNOM); the highest national honour for academic achievement. She also received the national honour of the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) in 1981. Ladi Kwali died on August 12, 1984. She was 59. Her picture appears at the back of the 20 Naira note.

(Written by Kayode Ariyo)

 I have four angry boys in my class who feel that it is unthinkable to have no special day dedicated to the boys. ?

So, I told them that the female folks have had to put up more fight to take a significant place in history. From a young age they have been made to feel that they are second-class world citizens who needed to be only seen and not heard. They have faced many indignities just for being females. So, the whole world is really waking up to really understand why and how such sickening perspective and attitude are wrong. 

So, they paused for few minutes in thought, and I thought I had finally quelled the anger, only to watch them blurt out, "Boys should have boys' day".??

Anyway, I understand how they see the whole thing. Girls, their class mates, were also in school, cladded in beautiful and colourful attires that drew the attention of everyone, and a special segment of the day was dedicated to them on the beautifully decorated assembly ground, and they were to be addressed by an invited guest, and were given snacks afterwards. While all these were going on, they-----the boys----- remained in class much against their will. I then could see so clearly how I lost that battle??‍♂?

-Kunle O. Daramola