group identifying itself as Concerned Nigerian Citizens and Stakeholders, under the banner of the Igbo Intelligentsia Group, has petitioned the Minister of Education over the contents of a federally approved Junior Secondary School history textbook titled Living History.
In the petition addressed to the Honourable Minister of Education, the group alleged that the textbook omits the history of the Igbo people, one of Nigeria’s major and constitutionally recognised ethnic nationalities, despite covering the histories of other ethnic groups in the country.
The petitioners described the omission as “deeply troubling” and discriminatory, arguing that it contradicts the principles of equity, inclusiveness, and national unity that underpin Nigeria’s educational philosophy.
According to the group, the approval of secondary school textbooks in Nigeria follows a multi-tiered evaluation process coordinated by the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) in collaboration with State Ministries of Education. They questioned whether established guidelines and review procedures were fully adhered to during the development and approval of Living History.
“The exclusion of an entire people’s history raises serious concerns about procedural compliance, reviewer accountability, and institutional oversight,” the petition stated.
The group warned that history education plays a critical role in shaping national consciousness and inter-ethnic understanding, adding that the alleged erasure of the Igbo narrative could promote misinformation and deepen ethnic distrust among young learners.
In the petition, the group made several demands, including the immediate withdrawal of the textbook from all schools nationwide, the establishment of a comprehensive and independent investigation into its authorship and approval process, and a determination of whether NERDC standards and state-level review protocols were followed.
They also called for sanctions against individuals or institutions found culpable and urged the Ministry to strengthen safeguards to prevent similar omissions in future educational materials.
“Nigeria’s unity cannot be sustained through selective history,” the petitioners stated, stressing that Nigerian children deserve an inclusive and balanced account of the nation’s past.
The petition was signed by the Igbo Intelligentsia Group on behalf of concerned Nigerian citizens and stakeholders, who expressed confidence that the Minister would intervene in the interest of justice, educational integrity, and national cohesion.
