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The Nigerian Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has confirmed that President Bola Tinubu has mandated the return of Nigerian History as a subject in both primary and secondary schools.
Speaking on Tuesday during Channels Television’s End-of-Year Special Review Show, Alausa emphasized that the decision to reinstate History in the basic education curriculum was made by President Tinubu, who recognized the importance of understanding the nation’s past.
The announcement follows reports that the Nigerian government had formally reintroduced History to the country’s education system after it was removed 13 years ago. In 2009, under the leadership of former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, History was excluded from the curriculum, with the rationale that students were avoiding the subject due to a lack of job prospects for History graduates and a shortage of qualified teachers.
However, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, officiated the event marking the reintroduction of History teaching and the training of History teachers at the basic education level in Abuja. The ceremony was attended by the Minister of State for Education, Goodluck Opiah, who expressed concern over the decline in national unity resulting from the removal of History. Opiah emphasized that this gap in education had contributed to a retreat into tribal sentiments and a lack of understanding about Nigeria’s evolution.
Adamu also highlighted the selection of 3,700 History teachers from across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to undergo specialized training aimed at improving the quality of History education in schools. This move is part of a broader strategy to strengthen teaching practices and equip educators with the necessary skills to teach the subject effectively.
He stated that History used to be a fundamental subject in Nigerian classrooms but was removed for unclear reasons, causing a loss of knowledge and civic values among students. Adamu pointed out that the absence of History had resulted in a disconnection from the nation’s past, negatively impacting national cohesion and moral values.
The reintroduction will focus on developing History teachers’ capacities, ensuring they are equipped to deliver comprehensive lessons on Nigeria’s history and evolution. Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, the Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), confirmed that the first batch of 3,700 History teachers, selected from each state and the FCT, would undergo training to familiarize them with the updated curriculum and content.
This initiative follows the directive from the Ministry of Education and the efforts of the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), which worked to ensure a smooth implementation of the new curriculum.
