NAN-H-46
History
By Olayinka Olawale
Lagos, Oct. 21, 2016 (NAN) Mr Denja Abdulahi, President, Association of Nigerian Authors, has commended the Federal Government for the decision to reintroduce history into primary and junior secondary schools’ curriculum.
Abdulahi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that history as a subject was very important to the educational development of the students.
NAN reports that Malam Adamu Adamu, Minister of Education, had on Thursday flagged-off a programme on the Disarticulation of History from Social Studies Curriculum in Abuja.
Adamu said the learning of History would enable children in the earliest stage to become well enlightened citizens of the society who respect diversity and strive for attainment of the unity of Nigeria.
He called on experts involved in the disarticulation exercise to develop curricular objectives and contents that would lead to positive learning outcomes.
Abdulahi told NAN that Nigerians always shy away from their history as the subject may not always be about palatable happenings.
“History can be unpalatable, but when we talk about the unpalatable happenings of history, we look at what happened and tell people how to avoid the pitfalls.
“If we don’t teach history, we are creating a rootless society, because from history, you get inspired about your origin, get inspiring stories about who you are, and what you can emulate from people of the past.
“It is from the same history that you get to know what led to the civil war, and our children can learn about Oyo Empire, Benin Empire, Songhai Empire and Borno Empire.
“`Nigerians don’t want to talk about civil war, coup and counter coup; all these things have happened, something led to them, and if we don’t tell our children about the civil war, then how do you want them to learn from the past?
He said that other countries of the world like the U.S. and UK, always talked about their civil war and taught it in their schools.
“We are happy the government is reintroducing it into the curriculum.
“Learning of history is very interesting and entertaining; children will enjoy it because it is fun when you listen to stories and events of the past.
“It will also draw the children to their roots and culture,“ he said. (NAN)
OOG/SOA
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Edited by Oluwole Sogunle