By Jamiu Yusuf
ABUJA: The Federal Government of Nigeria has approved the reintroduction of Nigerian History as a compulsory subject in schools, a landmark education reform designed to strengthen national identity, unity, patriotism, and responsible citizenship among young learners.
Announcing the policy on Wednesday, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sai’d Ahmad, said the reform was made possible under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Under the new arrangement, Nigerian History will be taught continuously from Primary 1 through Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS3). At the Senior Secondary School level (SS1–3), students will now take Civic and Heritage Studies, a newly introduced subject that blends Nigerian History with Civic Education.
According to the revised basic education curriculum, pupils in Primary 1–6 will learn about Nigeria’s origins, heroes and heroines, cultural heritage, geography, economy, religions, colonial rule, and post-independence governance. Junior Secondary students will study topics such as early Nigerian civilisations, pre-colonial states, West African empires, European contacts, amalgamation, independence struggles, and democratic governance—integrated with civic values to promote tolerance, discipline, and national unity.
The Ministers hailed the reform as a priceless gift to the nation, stressing that it would reconnect children with their cultural roots while instilling pride, discipline, and responsibility. They added that the inclusion of civic education would equip young Nigerians with values to respect diversity, uphold democratic institutions, and contribute positively to society.
The Ministry of Education confirmed that the revised curriculum for Primary and Junior Secondary schools has already been released. It also pledged to partner with stakeholders to provide teaching resources, retrain educators, and monitor classroom implementation.
Parents, teachers, and communities were urged to support the policy, which the government described as a shared responsibility in raising disciplined, patriotic, and globally competitive citizens.
