Lagos State Assembly Makes Plans to Revive History Studies in Secondary Schools

The Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution to revive teaching and learning of history as a subject in schools for nation building. The House called on Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode to direct relevant ministries and agencies of the state to revive and enhance teaching of history.

According to Vanguard, the Assembly also called on the state ministry of education to brief the House committee on education strategies to be used to achieve the goal. The Deputy Majority Leader, Olumuyiwa Jimoh who moved the motion at the meeting said that there had been a decline in the teaching of history in schools.

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He said:

“Our history and collective patrimonies should be taught in schools to address some of the fundamental issues on nation building and give us direction. Without history, we are a lost race; it is through history we know our origin and tradition. We need to resuscitate it and make its teaching compulsory. Without our history, there is no way we can develop.”

Other lawmakers also denounced the decline in history teaching in schools, saying that Nigeria had suffered much from the decline. According to them, history is important for the socio-economic, cultural and political development of the nation.

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The Chairman of the House Committee on Education, Lanre Ogunyemi, said it was sad that history was no longer taught in many schools. He said:

“Subjects such as social studies, civic education and government could not replace history. The importance of history to mankind can’t be over emphasised because it helps us to remember the past and shape our future. No one can kill history no matter how he tries.”

Supporting his opinion, Rotimi Olowo, the Chairman of the House Committee on Budget and Economic Planning said:

“The earlier we bring back teaching of history in our schools, the better for us the study of history would enhance national integration and economic prosperity. Studying the evolution of Nigeria will make us to appreciate ethnic diversities, national resources and end many agitations. The economy of Nigeria is in comatose because we fail to appreciate history.”

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Teaching of history is imperative and is capable of moving the nation to the next level. History, teaches us where we were, where we are, and the way to go. It is to our own advantage politically, economically, culturally to return history to our school curriculum.

Photo credit: Vanguard