Nigerian Senator Ned Nwoko Calls For Unified Single Currency, One Language For Africa

Senator Ned Munir Nwoko, has called for a single African currency and language to boost the continent’s economic and cultural growth.

Speaking at Elevate Africa’s “The Africa We See” event at Transcorp Hilton, Nwoko emphasized that relying on foreign currencies like the dollar and euro hinders Africa’s economic potential and restricts trade between nations.

He reiterated the need for an African currency and a common language and how these two steps could transform Africa’s economic and cultural landscape.

“We don’t need the dollar, we don’t need euros. What we need is an African currency that will enable us to trade among ourselves,” Senator Ned Nwoko said.

Nwoko, a billionaire businessman and chairman of the Senate committee on reparations and repatriation, acknowledged that achieving this vision requires strong leadership.

“We need political leaders who are willing to put Africa first, leaders who are truly passionate about building a new Africa,” he stressed.

Reflecting on Africa’s colonial history, Senator Nwoko, who doubles as a renowned legal luminary, noted that languages like English, French, and German were imposed by partitioners.

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However, the continent is home to many indigenous languages, such as Swahili, Hausa, Arabic, and Yoruba, which are spoken across multiple countries, he noted.

“We’ve seen the effects of colonialism with languages like English, French, and German imposed on us, but we have rich indigenous languages like Swahili, Hausa, Yoruba, and Arabic,” he said.

He believes that adopting one of these languages as a pan-African language could strengthen unity and cultural identity.

Senator Ned Nwoko, however, noted that none of this can be achieved without strong leadership.

The event was part of Elevate Africa’s ongoing discussions aimed at shaping a unified and prosperous Africa.

The Nigerian Senator had earlier took a strong stance on de-dollarization in Nigeria, where he emphasized the need to reduce dependence on foreign currencies and strengthen the domestic currency, the naira.

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His latest call for a unified single currency and language aligns with his vision for economic sovereignty and development across Africa states.