Reverend Ezekiel Dachomo Questions Removal of History from Nigerian Secondary School Curriculum
A Nigerian cleric, Reverend Ezekiel Dachomo, has sparked public debate following his remarks on the removal of History from the country’s secondary school curriculum, describing the move as part of a deeper agenda.
Speaking during an interview on News Central TV, Reverend Dachomo questioned the motive behind the policy decision, saying:
“Why did they cancel History in Nigerian secondary schools? It’s jihad.”
The cleric alleged that the exclusion of History from the curriculum was not accidental but a calculated attempt to weaken national consciousness and distort Nigeria’s collective memory.
According to him, the removal of the subject contributed to a generation’s loss of awareness about the nation’s past struggles, unity and identity. He argued that societies that fail to preserve their historical narratives are easily manipulated, as citizens lack the context needed to recognize oppression or resist social division.
“When people don’t know where they are coming from, they become vulnerable to manipulation,” Reverend Dachomo added, emphasizing the importance of historical education in fostering national awareness and civic responsibility.
In previous years, government and education authorities explained the temporary removal of History as part of an effort to restructure the curriculum. However, the decision drew widespread criticism from religious leaders, civil society groups and historians, who argued that eliminating the subject undermined cultural identity and national unity.
The subject was later reintroduced into the basic and secondary school curriculum after a Federal Government directive in 2019, following persistent calls for its restoration.
Reverend Dachomo maintained that the study of History remains essential to Nigeria’s moral and civic development, warning against any future attempt to diminish its role in the education system.
By Hamzat Omolade
