How History Made a Scapegoat of the Nigerian Youth

It was a typical Thursday afternoon in Lagos, Nigeria, and the air was thick with sweat and dust as I left history class to go to the library. For me, the library had become a haven away from the overwhelming energy of my classmates, and it was there that we received shocking news: history had just been removed from the national curriculum.

The government claimed that history graduates struggled to find jobs and did not have enough teachers to support the subject. But the true reasons for this change went more profound, with many believing that the government sought to bury the truth about the country's tumultuous past and erase the civil war atrocities from younger generations.

The consequences of this decision were far-reaching, robbing the people of Nigeria of a crucial part of their identity and educational rights. It also risked repeating costly mistakes that had marred the country's socio-political existence, harming its nationalism and legitimacy. The collateral damage of this decision was immense, and the implications were even more significant.

The government was oblivious that the cost of war, whether social, psychological, or physical, could not be easily erased. The scars of war became a cultural heritage for both the victors and the vanquished, passed down from generation to generation, fueling bottled-up resentment, deep-seated trauma, and a feeling of injustice.

For me, like many others, our knowledge of the war was through stories told by their fathers, mothers, and relatives who were directly involved in the conflict. My father, who fought in the artillery division, would often recount his experiences, imbuing his narration with personal memories and emotions. Only in senior secondary school did I begin to take an interest in Nigeria's history and bury myself in research.

The decision to remove history from the curriculum was a non-solution, failing to address the root cause of tensions and the evils of the war. As the world becomes increasingly interconnected through digital technology, it is crucial to remember that the scars of the past will never fully heal until they are acknowledged and addressed.

What is Nigeria’s excuse?

Have you ever wondered why Nigeria seems to have a lack of appreciation for its history? Why do we shy away from delving into our past and learning from it?

Many countries have experienced wars, rebellions, and conflicts, and have come out stronger on the other side. The American Civil War, British War, the Russian War, and the Chinese Civil War are all taught in schools, and students are even encouraged to visit memorial sites. Why, then, does Nigeria feel the need to suppress its history, claiming that it is to quell tension?

It's time to face the facts: Nigeria's failure to see history as a tool for national development and cohesion is a fundamental root of our current situation. Instead, history has become a weapon exploited by propagandists, revisionists, incendiaries, and enemies of the state. 

If we continue to ignore our past, we will never learn from it. The former Minister of Information and Communication introduced a 'Rebranding' project, which failed to change Nigeria's poor global perception and only succeeded in wasting taxpayers' funds. Band-aid solutions like this do not work in instilling nationalism or avoiding conflict and rebellious activities.

The absence of an official account of the Nigerian Civil War is evidence of Nigeria's abhorrence of history. When we obliterate History, we should also destroy our artefacts, and burn our museums and monuments, heritage sites and archaeological activities. A generation of Nigerians without knowledge of history would not appreciate these treasures.’

Nigeria is not alone in its hide-and-seek game with history, as many other countries have intentionally ignored and left out uncomfortable truths from their curricula. This is seen in American and British schools where the transatlantic slave trade and colonization are rarely taught. However, the consequences of this intentional obstruction of knowledge are evident in violent militias, institutionalized racism, and recent protests like Black Lives Matter.


Rwanda: A Case Study

In 1994, Rwanda experienced one of the most horrific genocides in history, resulting in the deaths of over 800,000 people, mostly Tutsi. The aftermath of the genocide saw the Rwandan Patriotic Front and the people of Rwanda engaging in a preservation and restoration process that resurrected the remains of a nation that was almost dead. Today, Rwanda is ranked as the second safest country in Africa and ninth in the world, with impressive gender equality statistics, thanks to the government's proactive approach to reconciliation.

The Rwandan government recognized that to achieve reconciliation, there was a need to educate actors and non-actors on the facts surrounding the genocide. This involved establishing an authoritative and official account based on primary sources while preserving evidence of the war in genocide sites and other mementoes. This approach was also used by other countries, such as the exhumation of mass graves in former Yugoslavia and the preservation of Native American historic cemeteries.

Honouring the victims of the genocide through memorials, museums, monuments, and other sites became a crucial aspect of helping the survivors deal with their loss and ease their grief. The government built museums and monuments, displayed paintings and pictures, wrote stories, and created exhibits of the remains, photographs, clothes and other belongings of the genocide victims. These sites serve as a reminder of the consequences of genocidal war, deter ethnic tension and conflict, and promote a national agenda of reconciliation and peace. They have also become places of solace, mourning, and a link for survivors with their late relatives and friends.

While some individuals might fear that preserving elements of the war might widen hostilities, the advantages of preservation and memorialization in helping victims feel included while avoiding further conflict outweigh any reservations they might have. Rwanda's proactive approach to reconciliation is a testament to the power of memory, education, and healing, and serves as a model for other countries to follow.

Can We Find Our Way Back?

We often hear the saying, "History repeats itself," but do we truly understands what it means? History education is not simply a way to memorize dates and events, it's a means to understand the relationships and dynamics between different groups. It's an opportunity to learn from past mistakes and build a better future.

Imagine if we could take charge of our narrative and identity, not leave it in the hands of politics. If we could diagnose the fundamental impediments to Nigeria's growth and propose efficient solutions with the help of a retrospective search in History. It's time to inscribe history in every facet of society, from formal to informal settings, and make it a lifestyle.

But it's not just about teaching and learning, it's about activating our senses and creating physical reminders of our history. We need monuments in main locations, parks in memory of laudable events, museums representing portions of our history, and public celebrations of memorable events. These sites could not only be a source of education but also a tourist attraction, ultimately increasing our GDP. If we can vacation in other countries and enjoy their cultural-historical sites, why can't we develop ours?

Above all, we need to take up the responsibility of learning the history of our nation. We must read, ask questions, and be curious instead of waiting for a government that has consistently shown to be uninterested. 

The Lack of history education explains the way that the government and people in positions of power are complicit in the abject poverty, corruption, conflict, and bad governance plaguing Nigeria as a nation. But we cannot give up now, for fighting for something as crucial as this is a marathon, not a sprint.