Volume 4, Number 1

The Indispensability of History Education in Achieving National Unity: The Nigerian Experience

  Authors

Richard Adewale Elewomawu, Kogi State College of Education, Nigeria

  Abstract

One of the protracted “epidemics” in Nigeria is the absence of National Unity. Nigeria has fought a thirty month war to keep all her parts together yet every year, the togetherness is still seen as fragile. Several armed groups; Odua People’s Congress (OPC), Niger-Delta militant groups and the current one is the Boko Haram terrorists in the North East of Nigeria have come up to disintegrate the country. Despite some laudable efforts made by successive governments of Nigeria and several recommendations made by scholars on the togetherness of Nigeria, Nigeria still experience disunity because Nigerians lacks historical consciousness. This research initially focuses on what history is then a concise reminder of the evolution of Nigeria before discussing the issues within the unbreakableness nature of Nigeria. The challenges of national unity in Nigeria and how Nigeria can use history education to galvanise national consciousness among Nigerians were properly elaborated. This study suggests that History education remains the most reliable vehicle (field of education) best equipped to stimulate imbue and institutionalise national unity in the minds and hearts of Nigerians.

  Keywords

History Education, Indispensability, National Unity, Nigeria