The Federal Government has officially reintroduced Nigerian History as a compulsory subject in the basic education curriculum, in a bid to strengthen national identity, unity, patriotism, and responsible citizenship.
The Federal Ministry of Education made the announcement on Wednesday via its official X handle, describing the reform as a “priceless gift” to the nation.
“For the first time in decades, Nigerian pupils will study History continuously from Primary 1 to JSS3, while SSS1–3 students will now take Civic and Heritage Studies, a new subject that integrates History with Civic Education,” the statement read.
Curriculum Breakdown:
Primary 1–6: Pupils will learn about Nigeria’s origins, heroes, rulers, culture, politics, economy, religions, colonial rule, and post-independence governance.
JSS1–3: Students will study civilisations, empires, trade, European contacts, amalgamation, independence, democracy, and civic values.
According to the ministry, the policy aims to reconnect children with their roots while inspiring pride, unity, and commitment to national development.
The government also announced that it has released the revised curriculum, will retrain teachers, provide learning resources, and strengthen monitoring mechanisms to ensure effective implementation.
History was previously removed from the curriculum in the 2009/2010 academic session under the New Basic Education Curriculum. At the time, officials cited low student interest, limited career prospects for graduates, and a shortage of History teachers.
Efforts to reverse the decision began in 2017, with the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) announcing plans for reintroduction. In 2022, the government initiated a teacher-training program to prepare for the subject’s return.
With this reform, Nigerian pupils will once again have the opportunity to learn their history from the ground up, ensuring that future generations remain connected to their heritage.
