Nigeria and Scottish currency

SIR: While a lot of Nigerians are busy pulling down the image of this country, Scotland is a country that has decided to propagate the image of Nigeria using one of the areas that make up Nigeria on her Clydedale Bank notes. Ibibio and Ekoi are Efik towns in Cross River State of Nigeria and the Scottish Government decided to put the map of these towns in their £10 (ten pound sterling) notes. They are surrounded by Aro Chukwu, Amasu, Umon, Akani Obio, Ikorofiong, Obot, Ifako Ekenge, Itu, Ikotobong, Use, Odor Ikpe, Okpo, etc.


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Why will a country as far away as Scotland in Europe put the map of Nigeria in Africa on its notes? Scotland and Nigeria share some things in common. Scotland is an oil producing country just like Nigeria. Scotland has most of her wells in Aberdeen just like Nigeria has most of its well in the Niger Delta. A lot of Nigerians are working in oil and gas companies in Scotland, especially Aberdeen, while there are many Scottish nationals working as expatriates in Nigeria especially in the Niger Delta.

But the story does not end there. The map of Aro Chukwu is on Scottish notes because Mary Slessor lived and died there. Mary Slessor was born on December 2, 1848 in Gilcomston, a surbub of Aberdeen, the second of seven children, only four of whom survived childhood. Her father, Robert Slessor, originally from Buchan, was a shoemaker. Her mother, from Oldeldrum, was a deeply religious woman of sweet disposition, who had a keen interest in missionary work in the Calabar region of Nigeria. Mary Slessor went to live among the Efik people in Calabar, in present day Cross River State in Nigeria. There she successfully fought against the killing of twins at infancy, she died there in 1915 and was given a state burial.

Olufemi Oyedele,
London, United Kingdom.