The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has announced the directive of President Bola Tinubu to reintroduce Nigerian History as a subject in the country’s basic education curriculum.
Alausa disclosed this during Channels Television’s End-of-Year Special Review Show, stating that the president had emphasized the importance of reviving the subject in schools.
“President Tinubu has mandated the return of Nigerian History as a subject in basic education,” Alausa affirmed, highlighting the government’s commitment to addressing the gap created by the absence of the subject for over a decade.
History was removed from Nigeria’s basic education curriculum in 2009 during the administration of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
The decision was reportedly influenced by low student interest, scarcity of history teachers, and limited career prospects for history graduates.
The absence of history in classrooms has had far-reaching implications.
The former Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, expressed concern over the erosion of civic and moral values, as well as a growing disconnect from Nigeria’s past.
Speaking during the inauguration ceremony for the reintroduction of history, Adamu noted, “This single act no doubt relegated and eroded the knowledge and information that learners could otherwise have been exposed to.
It was a monumental mistake, and we are already seeing its negative consequences.”
Adamu, represented by the Minister of State for Education, Goodluck Opiah, linked the lack of historical knowledge to the rise of primordial sentiments threatening national cohesion.
To ensure the successful implementation of the reintroduction, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) have taken significant steps.
Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, Executive Secretary of UBEC, revealed that 3,700 teachers from across the country have been shortlisted for training.
“The selection was done on a pro rata basis, with 100 teachers from each state and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT),” Bobboyi stated.
The training aims to equip teachers with the necessary skills and updated subject content to effectively teach Nigerian History.
The reintroduction of history is seen as a strategic move to address the loss of cultural and historical identity among young Nigerians.
The focus will be on building capacity for teachers, ensuring mastery of the subject, and fostering an understanding of Nigeria’s evolution.
“This is more than just a curriculum change; it is a step toward healing divisions and reinforcing national identity,” Bobboyi emphasized.
The reintroduction of history marks a pivotal moment for Nigeria’s education sector, as the government takes proactive steps to bridge the gap left by its removal.