The West African nation of Liberia is poised to take a bold leap into the future of finance by exploring the creation of its own central bank digital currency (CBDC). In this endeavor, they've turned to a visionary partner – Gluwa, a platform specializing in real-world asset solutions. This collaboration holds immense promise for not only propelling Liberia's economic growth but also bridging the digital divide that plagues its rural regions.

Gluwa's involvement stems from its recent success in Nigeria, where it played a pivotal role in driving the adoption of the country's CBDC, the eNaira. This experience positions them perfectly to guide Liberia's journey. A pivotal meeting between Gluwa's CEO, Tae Oh, and Liberian President Joseph Boakai solidified this partnership. The discussions delved into the immense potential of a CBDC to fuel economic growth, while acknowledging the crucial challenge of limited internet connectivity in Liberia's rural areas.

This digital disparity is not a mere inconvenience; it's a significant barrier to financial inclusion. As a stark reminder, a major internet outage in Liberia on March 14th crippled online transactions, including mobile money transfers and banking services, for over 14 hours. This incident underscored the urgency of addressing the connectivity gap.

Gluwa, however, is not daunted by this obstacle. They've proposed a revolutionary solution – the introduction of a satellite-based internet service provider (ISP) specifically designed to deliver affordable internet access to remote areas. This initiative would be instrumental in paving the way for a successful CBDC rollout, ensuring that even those in the farthest corners of Liberia can reap the benefits of this digital transformation.

Furthermore, Gluwa recognizes the need for seamless integration with Liberia's existing mobile money system. This ensures a smooth transition for citizens already familiar with mobile payment platforms. Gluwa's expertise extends beyond just the CBDC itself – their proposed ISP solution serves as the critical infrastructure needed to make the digital currency accessible to all.

Gluwa's commitment to financial inclusion extends beyond Liberia. Recent discussions with Ghana's Vice President, Mahamudu Bawumia, focused on bolstering financial inclusivity within the country. Similarly, in Nigeria, Gluwa has solidified its partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This collaboration goes beyond just the eNaira – Gluwa plans to integrate its innovative Credal blockchain technology into the Nigerian CBDC. This integration aims to simplify fintech lending, authenticate transactions with robust user authentication mechanisms, and pave the way for a more secure and efficient financial ecosystem.

The partnership between Liberia and Gluwa signifies a momentous step forward not only for the nation's economic development but also for setting a precedent for other African nations striving to bridge the digital divide. By harnessing the power of blockchain technology and innovative solutions like satellite-based ISPs, Liberia is poised to create a truly inclusive financial landscape, empowering its citizens and unlocking its full economic potential.