The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially reinstated History as a compulsory subject in all primary and secondary schools, decades after it was removed from the nation’s basic education curriculum.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the Federal Ministry of Education said the decision aims to strengthen national identity, unity, patriotism, and responsible citizenship among young Nigerians.
“The Federal Government has reintroduced Nigerian History as a compulsory subject in the basic education curriculum to reinforce national identity, foster unity, and build a sense of patriotism and responsible citizenship,” the statement read.
Curriculum Breakdown
Under the revised curriculum, pupils from Primary 1 through Primary 6 will learn about Nigeria’s origins, its heroes and rulers, culture, politics, economy, religions, colonial history, and post-independence governance.
Junior Secondary School (JSS 1–3) students will focus on topics such as ancient civilisations, empires, trade, European contact, the 1914 amalgamation, independence, democracy, and civic values.
At the Senior Secondary level (SS 1–3), students will take a newly designed subject called Civic and Heritage Studies, which merges History with Civic Education to provide a more comprehensive understanding of Nigeria’s past and its relevance to present-day citizenship.
Government’s Commitment
The Education Ministry said the revised curriculum has already been released, with plans underway to retrain teachers, provide necessary resources, and strengthen monitoring to ensure proper implementation.
Describing the reform as a “priceless gift to the nation,” education officials noted that the move would reconnect children with their cultural and historical roots while inspiring pride, unity, and commitment to national development.
A Return After Controversy
History was controversially removed from the basic education curriculum in 2007 and merged with Social Studies, a decision that was widely criticised by academics, civil society organisations, and educationists for eroding students’ understanding of nationhood and civic responsibility.
In 2019, the late former President Muhammadu Buhari approved the reintroduction of History as a standalone subject at the basic education level, but its implementation was partial.
This latest decision marks the first time the subject will be taught continuously and made compulsory from primary through senior secondary school.
Education stakeholders say the reform is timely, as Nigeria continues to grapple with ethnic tensions, political instability, and declining civic values among young people. They believe that structured teaching of History could play a critical role in fostering national unity and strengthening collective consciousness.
