The Federal Government has officially restored History as a compulsory subject in the basic education curriculum, a move aimed at fostering national identity, unity, patriotism, and responsible citizenship among young Nigerians.
The Ministry of Education confirmed the policy shift in a statement shared on its official X handle on Wednesday.
“For the first time in decades, Nigerian pupils will study History continuously from Primary 1 to JSS3, while SSS1–3 students will take the new Civic and Heritage Studies, integrating History with Civic Education,” the statement read.
According to the ministry, pupils in Primary 1–6 will be introduced to Nigeria’s origins, notable leaders, cultural heritage, politics, economy, religion, colonial experiences, and post-independence governance. At the junior secondary level, the syllabus will cover civilisations, empires, trade, European contact, amalgamation, independence, democracy, and civic values.
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The statement described the reform as a “priceless gift to the nation,” explaining that it reconnects children with their roots while nurturing pride, unity, and commitment to nation-building.
The revised curriculum has already been released, with plans underway to retrain teachers, supply instructional resources, and enhance monitoring.
History was originally taken out of the basic school curriculum under the 2007 New Basic Education Curriculum, fully implemented in the 2009/2010 academic session. At the time, government officials cited a lack of student interest, limited career opportunities for graduates, and an inadequate number of qualified teachers as reasons for its removal.
In 2017, the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council announced plans to restore the subject starting from the 2018/2019 school year. By 2022, the Federal Government had launched the first phase of teacher training in preparation for History’s full comeback as a stand-alone subject.
