The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially reinstated History as a compulsory subject in the basic education curriculum, in a move aimed at strengthening national identity, unity, patriotism, and responsible citizenship among young learners.
The announcement was made on Wednesday by the Federal Ministry of Education via its official X handle, marking the first time in decades that Nigerian pupils will study the nation’s history continuously from primary through junior secondary levels.
According to the statement, the revised curriculum will see:
- Primary 1–6 pupils studying Nigeria’s origins, heroes, rulers, culture, politics, economy, religions, colonial rule, and post-independence governance.
- JSS1–3 students learning about African civilisations, ancient empires, trade routes, European contact, amalgamation, independence, democratic governance, and civic values.
At the senior secondary level, students in SSS1–3 will now take a newly designed subject called Civic and Heritage Studies, which integrates History with Civic Education.
“This reform is a priceless gift to our nation — reconnecting children with their roots while inspiring pride, unity, and a sense of responsibility for Nigeria’s development,” the ministry said.
To ensure smooth implementation, the ministry confirmed it has released the revised curriculum, will retrain teachers nationwide, supply teaching materials, and strengthen monitoring and evaluation across schools.
This marks a major reversal of a controversial policy introduced under the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) when the New Basic Education Curriculum launched in 2007 removed History from primary and junior secondary schools, starting from the 2009/2010 session.
At the time, authorities cited low student interest, limited job opportunities for History graduates, and a shortage of qualified teachers as reasons for its removal.
In 2017, the NERDC announced plans to bring History back, and by 2022, the Federal Government began the first stage of a teacher training initiative to prepare for its reintroduction as a standalone subject.
The latest move now completes that long-delayed reform, with the full rollout of History lessons beginning from Primary 1 through JSS3, and a Civic-Heritage blend for senior secondary students.
