News

History Is Back Into The Nigerian School Curriculum

In 2009, History was removed from the basic education curriculum, a decision which was intensely criticised for leaving generations of students with little or no knowledge of Nigeria’s past. The Federal Ministry of Education has announced a major curriculum change for the first time in over a decade. Nigerian pupils will study History as a subject from Primary 1 to JSS3. In contrast, students in Senior Secondary School (SSS1–3) will study a new subject called Civic and Heritage Studies, which integrates History with Civic Education. Some Nigerians may see this triumphant return as merely an opportunity to memorise dates and events, but history is more than that.

This transformational move has sparked conversations among teachers, education experts, parents, and others, especially at a time when many young Nigerians are disinterested and have distanced themselves from national values and historical knowledge.

It offers students the opportunity to reconnect with their roots, learn the values of unity and citizenship, unlearn patterns that have caused national pitfalls, understand laws and rights, and preserve cultural and historical memories.

For senior secondary school students, the blend of History with Civic Education enables the learning process to be both practical, impactful, and inspiring. The teaching of the subject won’t just be about “what happened,” but also about “what it means and how it affects the future.”

The initiative announced by the federal government is commendable; however, concerns and challenges remain that need to be addressed for the curriculum to be sustainable.

First of all, many schools across Nigeria lack trained History teachers, especially in rural areas. The government should organise training for urban and rural History teachers.

Beyond teachers, learning materials are also essential. Relevant and updated textbooks, as well as digital content, must be provided for all secondary schools, and they must accurately reflect Nigerian and African narratives.

Careful and effective planning is crucial for the successful implementation of the curriculum. Are there groups or agencies set up to monitor and ensure that all secondary schools include History in their list of subjects? Without this, the new curriculum risks becoming another policy announcement that appears promising on paper but fails to deliver in classrooms.

Lastly, the Nigeria education budget still falls below the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recommended 15–20% of national expenditure, which raises questions about the sustainability of this curriculum. The funding budget needs to be increased for the effective implementation.

The return of History and the introduction of Civic and Heritage Studies to secondary school classrooms is more than an academic reform; it is a step toward shaping the citizens’ minds to be well-informed and patriotic. However, the success of this move will depend on whether the government backs it with the right plan, funding, resources, and adequately skilled instructors.

The emergence of this new curriculum shows that Nigeria wants its children not just to face the future, but also to understand the past.

Entertainment

Kanayo O. Kanayo demands lifetime streaming royalties for Nollywood stars

Veteran Nollywood actor Kanayo O. Kanayo has stirred up a conversation the industry has been quietly avoiding for years. The award-winning actor and lawyer recently proposed that the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) implement a policy mandating lifetime royalty payments for all Nigerian actors and actresses featured in films uploaded to streaming platforms.

He also called for a dedicated agency to oversee and enforce compliance nationwide, arguing it would ensure performers earn from their craft long after the cameras stop rolling. The timing of the proposal is telling. Stories of financial ruin among once-beloved Nigerian actors have become alarmingly common.

Last month, veteran actor Abiodun Ayoyinka, widely known as Papa Ajasco, spoke openly about his financial struggles despite decades in the industry.

Two years prior, Hanks Anuku made headlines with public pleas for financial assistance after falling on hard times post-Nollywood.

Patience Ozokwor recently put it bluntly: “The reason why Nollywood actors and actresses are poor is that we don’t get royalties for what we do, we only get paid for our appearance at the shoot.” Her words, along with the others, show a consistent pattern of demand.

The proposal has drawn mixed reactions from industry figures. Writer-director Jadesola Osiberu responded with sarcasm, suggesting that if actors want royalties, perhaps they should also contribute to covering a producer’s losses proportional to their screen time, a dig at the one-sided nature of the demand.

Producer and actress Bolaji Ogunmola was more direct: if actors want backend earnings, they should negotiate equity stakes and invest in projects upfront rather than seek guaranteed payouts after the fact.

It’s a fair challenge. The music industry comparison many have reached for doesn’t quite hold up here.

In more structured film industries, residuals are tied to carefully negotiated distribution contracts and enforced by unions, organisations built over decades with legal infrastructure and industry-wide buy-in.

News

Katsina plans mass wedding for 1,000 couples

The state government’s maiden welfare initiative will unite 2,000 individuals on April 25, even as armed bandits terrorise nearby communities. The Katsina State Government has announced a mass wedding ceremony for at least 1,000 couples drawn from all 34 local government areas, describing the initiative as a bid to ease the financial burden of marriage on the state’s most vulnerable residents.

The event, scheduled for April 25, 2026, will bring together 2,000 individuals, including widows, orphans, and economically disadvantaged people who, officials say, have long been willing to marry but unable to afford it.

The Director General of the Katsina State Hisbah Board, Malam Abu-Ammar, announced a livelihood support and counselling training session on Thursday.

He said the programme was conceived as part of the government’s efforts to reduce conditions that breed social vices.

“Many widows, orphans, and vulnerable individuals are unable to get married despite their willingness due to socioeconomic challenges,” he said.

The Katsina State Commissioner for Women Affairs, A’isha Malumfashi, added that all 1,000 couples had already undergone medical screening and compatibility verification ahead of the ceremony.

The government has promised support packages for both brides and grooms, though the total budget for the event has not been disclosed.

The announcement, however, comes at a fraught moment for the state. Just hours before it was made public, armed bandits reportedly issued a written ultimatum to communities in Kankia Local Government Area, demanding 700 cows and 1,000 sheep within four days or face violent raids.

News

Trump threatens 50% tariffs on countries arming Iran

Donald Trump has cautioned that the United States will impose heavy tariffs on any country that is found to supply military weapons to Iran, raising the bar of pressure in the midst of continuing tensions with Tehran.

On Wednesday, in a statement released on his Truth Social platform, Trump stated that any country supplying arms to Iran would be subjected to a 50 percent tariff on all its goods exported to the United States without any delay.

“A country supplying military weapons to Iran will be immediately tariffed on all goods sold to the United States of America, 50 per cent, effective immediately. There will be no exclusions or exemptions,” he wrote.

The warning comes shortly after the U.S. president announced a temporary ceasefire arrangement with Iran following heightened tensions in the region. This happened just hours before the deadline, Donald Trump urged Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The US President announced a ceasefire facilitated by Pakistan. In a post X, the White House shared that Trump has issued a temporary hold on all military activities in Iran.

President Trump announced that after conversations with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, he will be suspending the bombing and attack on Iran for a period of two weeks after the Iranians agreed to an “immediate and safe opening of the Strait of Hormuz”.

He went ahead and added that the US has already met and exceeded all military objectives and is making progress on a long-term peace agreement with Iran. Trump also said his administration is considering possible economic relief measures for Tehran, noting that Washington is currently engaged in discussions around tariff and sanctions relief.

The developments follow Iran’s reported agreement to temporarily reopen the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route at the centre of recent geopolitical concerns.

While details of the ceasefire and negotiations remain limited, the latest remarks highlight a mix of economic pressure and diplomatic engagement from Washington as it navigates relations with Tehran.

The series of warnings started in March, when Trump issued one of his most explosive warnings yet to Iran, saying the United States could “completely obliterate” the country’s electric plants, oil wells, and Kharg Island if a deal with a so-called “new and more reasonable regime” fails and the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened.

In a post on social media, Trump claimed the U.S. is in serious discussions with a new Iranian leadership aimed at ending American military operations in the country. However, he warned that failure to reach a deal quickly could prompt devastating military action against Iran’s infrastructure.