After years of absence, Nigerian history has finally got back into the revised national curriculum.
The move, which has been lauded by teachers and cultural advocates alike, is more than just a nod to the past, it is a strategic step towards shaping a more informed, integrated and self-aware generation of Nigerians.
Stakeholders believe that this policy will go a long way in inculcating patriotism and good citizenship in the younger generation, making them better leaders of the future.
He says, “Those who do not know their history are unlikely to learn from it, and where they do not learn from history, they will repeat it and then blame history for repeating itself.”
Gift Osikoya, a teacher, described the policy as a strategic and positive move by the Federal Government.
“History helps young learners understand their nation's journey, its struggles, heroes, values and achievements.
“When students learn how Nigeria came to be, the sacrifices of the nationalists and the diversity that makes up the country, it creates a sense of identity and belonging,” he said.
Osikoya emphasized that the study of history in school can change students' perspective on their country.
“Many youth today do not have a deep knowledge of Nigeria’s past, which impacts their connection to national values.
“By learning history early, students can develop pride in their heritage, understand the mistakes of the past and be inspired to contribute positively to national development,” he said.
However, he explained that inculcating patriotism through history would not happen overnight, but consistent and engaging teaching using real-life stories, local examples and interactive methods, which he said could help learners appreciate the need to protect and improve their nation.
It was Benjamin Cardozo, an American jurist cum philosopher, who once said, “History in illuminating the past, illuminates the present, and in illuminating the present, illuminates the future.”
There is no doubt that a connection exists between lack of literacy among Nigerians, lack of understanding of history and where they are today as a country.
Many communities across the country do not know the exact story of their migration to their current community or town. If you ask a person from Aguleri and Umuneli about their history in Anambra State, you will get a different story.
The same lack of accurate historical knowledge is also seen among the Urhoboh and many other communities such as Itsekiri, Igalla and Igarra.
It is no wonder that philosophers believe that no nation progresses beyond the education or literacy of its people.
Despite the fact that history as a subject increased the inter-cultural awareness of Nigerians, it was removed from the country's timetable in basic schools in the 1970s and taught as part of social studies.
This also did not go down well with many stakeholders, parents and teachers, so this 'intellectual rape' created a strong outcry.
However, the federal government took a bold step and announced the reintroduction of the subject into the new curriculum, and even made it mandatory for students.
Isaiah Ogundele, an administrator, lauded the policy, stressing that without history people will forget their past and will have problems with both the present and the future.
Ogundele explained that history was initially removed from the curriculum because of the fear of policy makers.
Recall that Nigerian Nobel laureate and politician Wole Soyinka, during his interview on a television station some time ago, said that the removal of history from the school curriculum was deliberate and an attempt to prevent people from learning about the country's past.
However, Ogundele said reintroducing it would have many benefits such as creating more jobs for teachers at all levels, and allowing the new generation to study the mistakes of their predecessors and provide better solutions for their future.
Furthermore, he said that it will help people to know some beautiful things of the past that are worthy of emulation such as learning the culture, customs and tradition of the people will help to heal the moral decline that has been destroyed due to the lack of information about how things were in the past and the danger of social media.
He stressed, “If you know where you have been, you will not be afraid of where you are going. Reintroducing history will go a long way in bringing back the glory of the past.”
