The Federal Government has officially reintroduced History as a compulsory subject in the national basic education curriculum, marking a historic step towards strengthening national identity, unity, patriotism, and responsible citizenship among young Nigerians.
For the first time in decades, pupils will study History continuously from Primary 1 through Junior Secondary School (JSS3). At the Senior Secondary level (SSS1–3), students will now take the newly introduced Civic and Heritage Studies, which integrates History with Civic Education to give learners a holistic understanding of Nigeria’s journey as a nation.
What Students Will Learn
• Primary 1–6: Pupils will be introduced to Nigeria’s origins, traditional rulers, cultural heritage, heroes, political systems, economy, religions, colonial rule, and post-independence governance.
• JSS1–3: Students will explore ancient civilisations, empires, trade routes, European contacts, the amalgamation of Nigeria, independence struggles, the growth of democracy, and civic values.
• SSS1–3 (Civic & Heritage Studies): A deeper study blending historical knowledge with civic responsibilities, equipping students with both national consciousness and practical civic awareness.
The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, and the Honourable Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sai’d Ahmad, expressed profound gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for driving this landmark reform under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
They described the policy shift as a “priceless gift to the nation”, stressing that History is not merely a record of the past but a foundation for shaping responsible and patriotic citizens.
Implementation Plan
The Ministry of Education has released the revised curriculum and announced measures to ensure smooth implementation:
• Teacher Training: Nationwide retraining programs to prepare teachers for the new curriculum.
• Resources: Provision of textbooks and learning materials tailored to each level.
• Monitoring: Strengthened oversight to ensure effective delivery in schools.
Education stakeholders and historians have welcomed the reform as a long-awaited move to reconnect Nigerian children with their roots, inspire national pride, and counter the erosion of civic values among young people.
“This is about giving our children a sense of identity and belonging,” said the Education Minister. “When they know where they come from, they will be better prepared to build where we are going.”
With this policy, Nigeria joins a growing list of nations that see History education not just as knowledge of the past but as a tool for shaping the future.