The President Goodluck Jonathan, would on Wednesday unveil the commemorative centenary celebration N100 banknote specially designed by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.

The CBN said on Monday that the commemorative banknote, which is part of its contribution to the centenary celebration, was in line with its mandate of issuing legal tender currency in Nigeria.

The CBN said the choice of the N100 denomination was consistent with best global practices for Central Banks around the world during the celebration of national events such as that

Part of the features of the commemorative banknote, it said, include the inscription of the theme of the centenary celebration: ‘One Nigeria, Great Promise’ as a micro-text.

The note would however retain the portrait of the late Obafemi Awolowo on the front, but with new note features of Nigerian traditional dancers at the back, and would come in different dominant colours.

“The new note is also designed to incorporate additional security features for digital communication, protection against counterfeiting, tolerance to the tropics and ease of recognition of genuineness,” the CBN said.

The CBN said the new banknotes, which would be commemorative for the purpose of the centenary celebration, would circulate alongside the existing N 100 note.

According to the bank, Wednesday’s unveiling ceremony would be preceded by a presentation by the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, detailing the aesthetic and security features of the note.

The last time the CBN issued commemorative banknote was in 2010, with the N50 polymer note to mark Nigeria’s 50th Independence Anniversary celebration.

The N100 note bearing the portrait of Chief Obafemi Awolowo was first issued in December 1999.