The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially reintroduced Nigerian History as a compulsory subject in the basic education curriculum, marking a significant policy reversal nearly 16 years after the subject was removed. The decision, announced by the Federal Ministry of Education on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, aims to strengthen national identity, unity, and patriotism and foster responsible citizenship among Nigerian youth.
According to the Ministry's statement, Nigerian pupils will now study history continuously from Primary 1 through Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS3). Students in Senior Secondary School (SSS1 to SSS3) will take a newly developed subject called Civic and Heritage Studies, which integrates Nigerian history with civic education. This will provide students with a comprehensive understanding of Nigeria’s past alongside civic values.
The revised curriculum for Primary 1 to 6 covers Nigeria’s origins, notable heroes and rulers, cultural heritage, political evolution, economic development, religious diversity, geography, colonial administration, and post-independence governance. Junior secondary students will explore early Nigerian civilisations, pre-colonial states, historical West African empires, intra-African and European trade, the amalgamation of Nigeria, the independence movement, democratic governance, and civic duties.
The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, alongside the Honourable Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sai’d Ahmad, expressed profound gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for championing this reform under the Renewed Hope Agenda. The ministers emphasised that history is not merely a record of the past but a crucial foundation for shaping responsible, patriotic citizens. They described the reform as a priceless gift to the nation, reconnecting young Nigerians with their roots while inspiring pride, unity, and commitment to national development.
The Ministry has already released the revised Nigerian History Curriculum and will embark on retraining teachers, providing educational resources, and strengthening monitoring and evaluation to ensure successful implementation. The government also calls on parents, educators, and communities to support the initiative as a shared responsibility in raising patriotic, disciplined, and forward-looking citizens.
History was removed from Nigeria's basic education curriculum in 2009 during an overhaul that merged it with social studies. At that time, it was argued that few students pursued history due to limited job prospects, and a shortage of qualified history teachers exacerbated the problem. Various efforts to restore history as a subject have occurred since 2017, with more deliberate moves to reintroduce it in the early 2020s. However, the latest announcement marks the first time history has been made compulsory and continuous throughout basic and secondary education.