By MICHAEL EBOH

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has joined in mourning the demise of Mr. Ola Vincent, former Governor of the apex bank, who passed away on September 3, 2012.

The CBN, in a statement posted on its website, said Ola Vincent, who was the Governor of the CBN between June 1977 and June 27, 1982, served at a time when the nation faced very dire economic challenges, adding that his expertise in handling his role as the Governor helped in providing stability and economic growth.

According to the CBN, prior to his appointment as Governor, Vincent was Deputy Governor from April 1, 1975 to June 28, 1977, adding that some of his key achievements as Governor include the introduction of the N20 banknote with the portrait of former Head of State, Late General Murtala Ramat Mohammad in 1977.

His other achievements, the CBN said, include, “Introduction of the portraits of eminent Nigerians on the N10, N5 and N1 Banknotes in 1979. Opening of ten (10) Branches between 1978 and 1981 namely: Sokoto, Ilorin, Calabar, Bauchi, Abeokuta, Akure, Owerri, Makurdi, Yola and Minna. This achievement brought the number of CBN Branches to eighteen (18) in 1981.

“Conceptualisation, launching and setting aside of funds for the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme (ACGS) and Laying the foundation stone of the Staff training school at the satellite town, Lagos.

“Midwifed the computerization of the Bank’s operations tagged “Central Bank of Nigeria Computerisation Project” in 1978. That was the Computerisation of the pay roll process, customer and general ledger, foreign exchange control, public debt, economic modeling and forecasting, statistical computation and analysis.”

Continuing, the CBN said, “As we mourn the passing away of a great icon, we are comforted by his exemplary and indeed a life well-lived.

“The CBN family will continue to remember him as a great, visionary and worthy leader. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace. Amen.”