Abdulwahab Isa 
When uncertainty threatens the heart of a nation’s economy, leaders either react or redefine. Mark Nwaozomudoh chooses the latter, building systems of strength from the core of Nigeria’s financial infrastructure.
As a senior figure at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), he has become a driving force behind national monetary stability, leveraging innovation, intelligence, and foresight to reinforce the country’s financial foundation.
In response to the currency distribution crisis triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, Mark has helped reengineer the CBN’s operational framework.
His integration of AI-powered forecasting, fraud prevention strategies, and responsive cash logistics continues to keep Nigeria’s economy afloat and functional, especially in vulnerable regions.
Where others see disruption, he sees a blueprint for lasting transformation.
In this exclusive interview, Telegraph peaks with Mark Nwaozomudoh about the persistent challenges he confronts daily, and the future he’s actively shaping for Nigeria’s financial system.
Interviewer: Mark, thank you for speaking with us. Can you tell us what problem first emerged since the pandemic that you’re still actively tackling today at the Central Bank?
Mark Nwaozomudoh:
Thank you for having me. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed significant vulnerabilities in Nigeria’s currency distribution network.
As movement restrictions took effect, the conventional channels for transporting cash, especially to rural and semi-urban communities has been disrupted. Commercial banks struggling to replenish ATMs, and many areas face critical shortages.
What we face isn’t just a logistics issue; it is the risk of eroding public confidence in the financial system at a time when the nation needs stability the most.
Interviewer: This must have required immediate and high-stakes intervention. How have you approached it?
Mark Nwaozomudoh:
My first step was to re-engineer the response strategy using data, technology, and frontline coordination. I deployed Clirec, an AI-based tool that allowed me to monitor ATM performance in real time, detect cash exhaustion patterns, and reprioritize distribution routes.
In parallel, I use the T24 platform to process interbank cash requests with far greater speed and precision, reducing systemic delays.
I also coordinate with multiple internal teams and regional bank branches to ensure that our interventions were agile, proactive, and targeted.
This is a moment that demands clarity and execution under pressure, and I have delivered that with discipline and foresight.
Interviewer: Are there additional threats beyond physical cash distribution.
Mark Nwaozomudoh:
Absolutely. Economic uncertainty fuels opportunism, and that includes a rise in fraud, counterfeit circulation, and cyber-related disruptions. I respond by instituting a multi-layered fraud mitigation strategy that focuses on predictive analytics, transaction tracing, and stakeholder sensitization.
These efforts so far have led to a significant annual reduction in fraud exposure within the currency operations framework. I also work aggressively to improve the Central Bank’s cash forecasting models.
By applying AI forecasting principles and refining reserve allocation algorithms, I have increased cash forecasting accuracy, which has proven essential for reserve adequacy and long-term currency planning.
Interviewer: That level of involvement suggests your work feeds into national-level decisions. Is that accurate?
Mark Nwaozomudoh
Yes, quite directly. I generate executive-level reports and insights that inform key policy decisions at the Central Bank’s highest levels.
Whether it’s managing inflationary trends, adjusting cash reserve requirements, or recalibrating liquidity support for commercial institutions, the data and performance intelligence I produce play a central role.
My work ensures that our policies are not only grounded in field realities but are also dynamically responsive to evolving trends. I see myself not just as an operator but as a strategic contributor to Nigeria’s economic policy engine.
Interviewer: And on a personal level, what drives you to sustain this level of performance?
Mike Nwaozomudoh:
What drives me is purpose. I don’t see my role as a routine job; I see it as a duty to protect the nation’s economic pulse. Every decision I make, every model I refine, and every disruption I solve has a direct impact on someone’s ability to access funds, keep a business open, or feed a family.
That awareness grounds me and fuels my determination to innovate continuously. I thrive in complexity, and I believe that excellence in public service should never be negotiable.
Interviewer: Looking ahead, what’s your mission for Nigeria’s financial infrastructure?
Mark Nwaozomudoh:
I am building a currency system that’s not only resilient but intelligent—an infrastructure capable of anticipating stress, absorbing shocks, and maintaining fluidity under any circumstance.
My mission is to future-proof our operations by expanding the use of AI, enhancing fraud detection, and institutionalizing agile frameworks that can scale nationally.
Nigeria’s future depends on economic systems that are smarter, faster, and more inclusive. I am fully committed to shaping that future—one solution, one policy insight, and one breakthrough at a time.
Interviewer: In a nation where economic resilience is not just desirable but imperative, Mark Nwaozomudoh exemplifies the kind of leadership that transforms technical expertise into national value.
Through precision, innovation, and purpose-driven action, he continues to reinforce the integrity of Nigeria’s financial system, proving that true impact starts at the core.
