HISTORY: The story of Ladi Kwali, the woman on the 20 naira note

The story of Ladi Kwali (1925 -1984), the woman on the Nigerian twenty naira note (N20).

Ladi Kwali was a Nigerian potter who was fond of welcoming several people from around the world to sit and learn from her pottery making.

She was born in the village of Kwali, Gwari region of Northern Nigeria, where pottery was a common occupation among women. She was so skilled that her work became known in Europe, Britain and America.

It was gathered that Kwali learnt to make pottery as a child from her aunt using the traditional coiling method.

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, her work was displayed in London at the Berkeley Galleries. Also as masterful decorations in some wealthy homes and palaces across the North.

She became Nigeria's best - known Potter, was awarded a decorate and was made MBE in 1963 despite not having a formal education.

Kwali was discovered by Michael Cardew, and the Pottery School in Abuja was established in 1950, and named after Nigeria's greatest potter of all time. It is called Ladi Kwali School of Pottery.

She became the first Nigerian woman to train in advanced pottery techniques, fusing her traditional style. According to report, Kwali was an educator, ceramist, glassworker and potter.

Ladi introduced the international community to the beauty of Nigerian art. She became a lecturer and later received a doctorate at the Ahmadu Bello University, in 1977.

Kwali's art was internationally recognised at exhibitions across Europe and America.

In 1963, Ladi Kwali was honoured as Member of the Order of the British Empire. She was also honoured in 1980 and 1981 with the Nigerian National Order of Merit Award in the Order of the Niger respectively.

She has since been the only woman on the Naira note with her portrait on the Nigerian currency.