History was yanked from the curriculum of most African state long ago. It started in the late 70s and ended in the late 90s with South Africa joining the group of nations who want to bury the past in the name of the holy market.
----
On Mar 22, 2014 10:40 PM, <sholaaiye@yahoo.com> wrote:
-- We cannot learn from the past without a good knowledge of history. For example, how can the delegates to the National Conference(whether it is relevant or not) shape the future of Nigeria when many of the young generation don't even understand how the county came into existence?--
The conference is populated by according to one of the delegates by those who destroyed the country, even though there are some young delegates who may not have a detailed understanding of the socio-political history and development of the nation they intend to restructure.
It is important to have the knowledge of how various societies and ethnic nationalities were organised before colonial rule, how the colonialists came to conquer and or sign treaty with monarchs who don't know how to read and write, the pre-amalgamation administrations(colonies and protectorates), the real intention of amalgamation, the colonial rule after amalgamation, how independence was fought for, what led to the military take over and the civil war, the effect of long military rule, how the military truncated the Second Republic and aborted the Third Republic to how the Fourth started on a shaky note.
There may not be an official pronouncement to ban the study of history, but the body language of the ruling class indicate that it may not be comfortable with an informed citizens who may be angered with the way their fore-fathers(mothers), uncles, aunties. were sold into slavery, how slave trade was organised in West Africa, the way colonialists conquered Africa and balkanised it at the Berlin Conference and how the fathers and grandfathers of current ruling elite milked Nigeria dry under the military and past civilian regimes.
That is why those who know should set agenda for this National Conference whether it is genuine or not. This is because the young delegates may decide on our future when the citizens are yearning for change.
What is the place of Fiscal Federalism and Devolution of Powers in a multi-ethnic and multi-religious nation?
It may be necessary to advocate deliberate re-introduction of history from primary to early secondary schools. I believe that an educated person without a knowledge of history is an educated illiterate. If not, we and generations to come will be misruled by uninformed persons.Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld from Glo Mobile.From: FJKolapo <kolapof@uoguelph.ca>Date: Sat, 22 Mar 2014 01:05:00 -0400 (EDT)ReplyTo: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.comSubject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - History ends in NigeriaPabloThis is sad and must be a reflection of the general fall in quality that has been a subject of discussion for so long now. It used to be much better. Very much better. My experience of history at the immediate post-secondary level in Nigeria was so robust and so comprehensive and so mind broadening - but, strangely enough, I did not get to learn any thing about slavery and the slave trade in Nigeria, until I got to the university.From: "Pablo Idahosa" <pidahosa@yorku.ca>
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Sent: Friday, March 21, 2014 2:26:50 PM
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - History ends in NigeriaFemi,
Ekhator has done me, at least, a service, for I am utterly bemused by how many young Nigerians who come to my classes so generally ignorant of Nigerian history. Few, except many of the young Igbos (sorry oh, but I put names to questions and answers) seem to know much, for instance about the civil war; and in the case of those who do, the extent of the details are self-taught or what their parents told them, not what they got in the schools.
This is all very unscientific, I know, but it would be useful and instructive to carry out a survey, informal or formal, and to make some inquiries to find out how extensively histories in schools in Nigeria are being taught, and how to see if, I guess, this is policy at both the state level lends itself to amnesia both by design and by default.
Pablo
On 14-03-21 10:46 AM, Ekhator Godfrey wrote:@Kolapo, greetings! I think you are not in Nigeria. we should not be scared or ashamed of accepting factual statements about Nigeria, even when they are derogatory. Our Post-primary schools do not offer 'History'. A few of us who have gone to the 'Ivory towers' to study history are seen as primitive people. Osun State government has a policy that officially banned the History. other states and the federal government has sentenced it to a 'natural death'. Apart from the civil history, many aspects of Nigeria's national life are left in the memory of the elites and political class. this is because they have had the opportunity of been active in governance and crippling the 'Giant of Africa'. Finally, is it not obvious in the attitude of our politicians that they lack a sense of HISTORY?--
On Wednesday, March 19, 2014 10:19:14 PM UTC+1, FJKolapo wrote:Some baffled non-Nigerian friends of mine saw this piece last weekend and sent me emails asking whether it was true. My response to one of them was, "it cant be true.
I have not read anything official from any quarters nor any discussions regarding this anywhere. Its not unlikely that the fellow read a piece about Nigerians not learning from history and mistook that for a policy statement. I think its one of those misconceived pieces that crop up from time to time."From: "Ikhide" <xok...@yahoo.com>
To: "Toyin Falola" <USAAfric...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2014 1:58:58 PM
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - History ends in Nigeria--Official reasons Nigeria advances for expunging history as a course of study are that students are shunning it, as there were few jobs for history graduates, and there is dearth of history teachers. These are excuses.Nigeria’s abhorrence of history is not new. There is no official account of the Civil War. When we obliterate history, we should also destroy our artifacts, burn our museums and monuments, heritage sites and archaeological activities. A generation of Nigerians without knowledge of history would not appreciate these treasures.How does a country proceed without a knowledge of it heroes and heroines? History is not just a study of events and dates, it provides analytical insights into social formations, anthropological developments, inventions and innovations that shape humanity.The roles of history in governance, conflict resolutions, diplomacy and international relations, science and medical studies, technological developments, advancement of civilisations and human relations are vital.- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/03/history-ends-nigeria/#sthash.mtXHvyYK.dpufOfficial reasons Nigeria advances for expunging history as a course of study are that students are shunning it, as there were few jobs for history graduates, and there is dearth of history teachers. These are excuses.Nigeria’s abhorrence of history is not new. There is no official account of the Civil War. When we obliterate history, we should also destroy our artifacts, burn our museums and monuments, heritage sites and archaeological activities. A generation of Nigerians without knowledge of history would not appreciate these treasures.How does a country proceed without a knowledge of it heroes and heroines? History is not just a study of events and dates, it provides analytical insights into social formations, anthropological developments, inventions and innovations that shape humanity.The roles of history in governance, conflict resolutions, diplomacy and international relations, science and medical studies, technological developments, advancement of civilisations and human relations are vital.- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/03/history-ends-nigeria/#sthash.mtXHvyYK.dpuf"Official reasons Nigeria advances for expunging history as a course of study are that students are shunning it, as there were few jobs for history graduates, and there is dearth of history teachers. These are excuses.Nigeria’s abhorrence of history is not new. There is no official account of the Civil War. When we obliterate history, we should also destroy our artifacts, burn our museums and monuments, heritage sites and archaeological activities. A generation of Nigerians without knowledge of history would not appreciate these treasures.How does a country proceed without a knowledge of it heroes and heroines? History is not just a study of events and dates, it provides analytical insights into social formations, anthropological developments, inventions and innovations that shape humanity.The roles of history in governance, conflict resolutions, diplomacy and international relations, science and medical studies, technological developments, advancement of civilisations and human relations are vital."- Vanguard editorial (March 12, 2014) on the elimination of History from Nigeria's curriculum.I thought this odious act was executed a while back... Obnoxious still!Please read the rest here...Official reasons Nigeria advances for expunging history as a course of study are that students are shunning it, as there were few jobs for history graduates, and there is dearth of history teachers. These are excuses.Nigeria’s abhorrence of history is not new. There is no official account of the Civil War. When we obliterate history, we should also destroy our artifacts, burn our museums and monuments, heritage sites and archaeological activities. A generation of Nigerians without knowledge of history would not appreciate these treasures.How does a country proceed without a knowledge of it heroes and heroines? History is not just a study of events and dates, it provides analytical insights into social formations, anthropological developments, inventions and innovations that shape humanity.The roles of history in governance, conflict resolutions, diplomacy and international relations, science and medical studies, technological developments, advancement of civilisations and human relations are vital.- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/03/history-ends-nigeria/#sthash.mtXHvyYK.dpuf- IkhideStalk my blog at www.xokigbo.comFollow me on Twitter: @ikhideJoin me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ikhide
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