FG Makes History Compulsory, Introduces Civic & Heritage Studies

The Federal Government has reintroduced Nigerian History as a compulsory subject in the basic education curriculum, marking a major shift aimed at strengthening national identity, patriotism, and citizenship among young Nigerians.

In a statement released Wednesday night, the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education said the decision was jointly announced by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sai’d Ahmad.

The Ministers thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for driving the reform under the Renewed Hope Agenda, describing it as a “priceless gift to the nation.”

“For the first time in decades, pupils will study Nigerian History continuously from Primary 1 through Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS3),” the statement said.

At the senior secondary level (SSS1–3), students will now take a newly developed subject called Civic and Heritage Studies, which combines Nigerian History with Civic Education.

What Pupils Will Learn

Primary 1–6: Nigeria’s origins, heroes and heroines, cultural heritage, political development, geography, economy, religions, colonial rule, and post-independence governance.
Junior Secondary (JSS1–3): Early Nigerian civilisations, pre-colonial states, West African empires, European contacts, amalgamation, independence struggles, and democratic governance — all blended with civic values to promote unity.

According to the Education Ministry, the revised curriculum has already been released, and the government will partner with stakeholders to provide resources, retrain teachers, and monitor implementation.

The Ministers emphasized that embedding civic education into the curriculum would equip learners with the values needed to respect diversity, uphold institutions, and contribute positively to society.

The Federal Government further called on parents, educators, and communities to support the initiative, describing it as a shared responsibility in raising disciplined and patriotic citizens.