After a 16-year absence from the curriculum, the Federal Government has reinstated Nigerian History as a mandatory subject for primary and secondary school students. The announcement was made via a statement on the Federal Ministry of Education’s official X handle on Wednesday.
The initiative aims to strengthen national identity, promote unity, and foster patriotism among young Nigerians. The Ministry outlined that:
Primary 1–6: Pupils will study Nigeria’s origins, heroes, rulers, culture, politics, economy, religions, colonial rule, and post-independence governance.
JSS1–3: Students will explore civilizations, empires, trade, European contact, amalgamation, independence, democracy, and civic values.
SSS1–3: Students will take a new Civic and Heritage Studies course, blending History with Civic Education.
The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Alausa, CON, and the Honourable Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sai’d Ahmad, thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for driving the reform. They emphasized that history is crucial for building responsible, patriotic citizens and reconnecting youth with their heritage, fostering pride, unity, and commitment to national progress.
The Ministry has released the revised curriculum and will retrain teachers, provide resources, and enhance monitoring. History was removed from the curriculum in 2009 under former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, citing low student interest, limited job prospects for history graduates, and a shortage of qualified teachers. In 2022, former Minister Adamu Adamu initiated efforts to reintroduce the subject, including training history teachers, though it remained optional in schools offering it.
