…Why Did Jonathan Ban the Teaching of History?
By Enyinnaya Appolos
Introduction
It was Bob Marley who sang: “If you know your history, then you would know where you’re coming from.”
One of the most regrettable and backward policy decisions in Nigeria’s education history came in the 2009/2010 academic session, when the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, with Dr. Sam Egwu as Minister of Education, banned the teaching of History as a standalone subject in the basic education curriculum.
In its place, History was collapsed into Social Studies, a watered-down subject that lacked the depth, richness, and cultural grounding that History provided.
Today, however, President Bola Tinubu has ordered the full implementation of the 2022 Federal Government decision to reintroduce History in primary and secondary schools.
Was History Really Abolished in 1982?
Some have argued that History was first banned in 1982. This is not true. What happened in 1982 was the introduction of the 6-3-3-4 education system, which emphasized Social Studies at the basic level. However, History still existed as a distinct subject.
The outright abolition only came in 2009/2010 under Jonathan’s government.
Why Did Jonathan Ban History?
The reasons advanced for this backward decision were flimsy, short-sighted, and ultimately harmful:
- NERDC Curriculum Review (2007–2009):
The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council argued that History could be merged into Social Studies for “efficiency.” This was more about bureaucratic convenience than educational enrichment. - Curriculum Overload:
Policymakers claimed Nigerian pupils were studying too many subjects. Removing History was seen as a way to reduce the burden. But this did little to ease the load; instead, it created a dangerous vacuum in civic knowledge. - Relevance Concerns:
Officials argued that History was not “practical” for job creation compared to sciences and vocational studies. This utilitarian view ignored the fact that while History may not produce engineers or carpenters, it produces citizens who understand their nation, identity, and role in shaping the future.
The Consequences of Scrapping History
The 2009/2010 decision robbed millions of Nigerian children of the opportunity to learn about their past, their heroes, and the struggles that shaped the country.
- Without History, how do young Nigerians learn about colonialism and independence?
- How do they understand the Nigerian Civil War or the sacrifices of democracy activists?
- How do they confront the identity crises and ethnic fault lines that still divide the nation?
History is not a luxury subject—it is the soul of a people. Scrapping it was an assault on Nigeria’s national memory.
The result was a generation that grew up more connected to foreign cultures than to their own roots, less conscious of their forebears’ sacrifices, and poorly equipped to critically interrogate Nigeria’s present through the lens of its past.
The Long Road to Restoration
After years of public outcry, the Muhammadu Buhari administration reintroduced History in 2022. But before full implementation could take off, Buhari left office in 2023.
Now, President Bola Tinubu has taken concrete steps to enforce the policy. In January 2025, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced that Tinubu has directed the return of History as a subject in primary and secondary schools beginning in 2025.
Last Wednesday, the Federal Government confirmed that Nigerian History has been reintroduced as a compulsory subject in the basic education curriculum—aimed at strengthening national identity, unity, patriotism, and responsible citizenship.
What Pupils Will Learn
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).
- Primary 1–6: Nigeria’s origins, heroes, rulers, culture, politics, economy, religions, colonial rule, and post-independence governance.
- JSS1–3: Civilisations, empires, trade, European contacts, amalgamation, independence, democracy, and civic values.
The Ministry of Education described this reform as a “priceless gift to the nation,” reconnecting children with their roots while inspiring pride, unity, and commitment to national development.
A New Dawn for History Teachers
For history teachers seeking employment, the opportunity has finally arrived. Schools will need competent hands to tell the true story of Nigeria and Africa to the next generation.
This is the time to reclaim Nigeria’s narrative.
Conclusion
The 2009/2010 decision to scrap History should forever stand as a painful reminder that when leaders tamper carelessly with education, they tamper with the very foundation of national identity.
Jonathan and Egwu’s policy choice remains a dark chapter in Nigeria’s educational history—a lesson in how not to govern, and how not to build a nation.
With Tinubu’s decision, Nigeria now has a chance to repair the damage and restore the civic soul of its future generations.
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