The Federal Government has announced that a new national curriculum will be officially rolled out in September 2025, with Nigerian History becoming a compulsory subject for all basic and secondary school students across the country.

The move is part of an ongoing reform by the Federal Ministry of Education aimed at strengthening national identity, improving civic responsibility, and modernizing learning outcomes in line with global standards.

According to a statement released by the National Education Research and Development Council (NERDC), the revised curriculum was developed through an inclusive and collaborative process involving public and private education stakeholders.

For the first time, private schools played a key role in shaping the curriculum through a Joint Technical Working Group set up by the Ministry. This group was tasked with integrating feedback from a wide range of educators, curriculum experts, and policy makers to ensure the new syllabus reflects current realities and future workforce needs.

Dr. Ismail Junaid, Director of Curriculum at the NERDC, emphasized that the reintroduction of Nigerian History as a core subject was deliberate and strategic. “Understanding our history is essential to building a stronger, more unified nation. This curriculum gives every Nigerian child access to the knowledge of their roots, heroes, challenges, and triumphs,” he said.

Other key changes in the new curriculum include the integration of digital literacy, entrepreneurship, and environmental sustainability at earlier stages of learning.

The roll-out is expected to begin with government owned schools and select pilot institutions in September, followed by full nationwide implementation over the next academic session.

Stakeholders across the education sector have welcomed the development, describing it as a long-overdue step toward aligning Nigeria’s education system with the realities of the 21st century.

Source : Nigeria Education News