![Hon. Festus Keyamo SAN arrives MMIA past 11:50 p.m. Feb 23 to lead oversight of Terminal 1 fire. Joined FAAN MD & team actively managing situation. Directed morning inspection Tuesday to guide restoration & confirm safety standards. Reaffirmed focus on passenger safety. Story: [link] #KeyamoMMIA #FireIncident #FAAN](https://fullcliphq.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/mym-150x150.jpg "MMIA Fire: Keyamo Inspects Lagos Airport After Terminal 1 Blaze Disrupts Flights")
The Federal Ministry of Education has issued a sharp disclaimer regarding the history textbook Living History, following a viral social media firestorm over its alleged exclusion of Igbo history and culture.
In a statement released on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa clarified that the publication is not an approved instructional material and warned schools against its use. The controversy highlights the sensitive nature of the newly reinstated compulsory history curriculum in Nigerian schools.
The “Living History” Crisis: Fact vs. Fiction
The backlash began over the weekend after videos and excerpts circulated on platforms like X and Instagram. Influencers and parents pointed to a table of contents that supposedly listed the pre-colonial histories of the Hausa, Yoruba, Benin, Kanuri, and others, while entirely omitting the Igbo, Nigeria’s third-largest ethnic group.
Key Clarifications from the Ministry:
-
No NERDC Approval: The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) confirmed the book was never submitted for the mandatory review and evaluation process.
-
Not on the “Approved List”: The Ministry maintains a rigorous list of textbooks aligned with the national curriculum; Living History does not appear on any official register.
-
Ministry Stance: Minister Alausa described the reports of government endorsement as “misleading and inaccurate,” stating that “Education thrives on truth; unity thrives on understanding.”
The Publisher Responds
Accessible Publishers, the company behind the title, has pushed back against claims of deliberate tribalism.
-
The Defense: Head of Editorial, Caleb Akinmola, stated that the textbook does contain stories about Igbo culture and that the social media claims were based on a misunderstanding of the book’s structure.
-
The Catch: When pressed by Premium Times reporters, the publisher was unable to confirm if the book had actually received the necessary NERDC certification, promising to “check documents.”
| Controversy Snapshot | Details |
| Title | Living History |
| Publisher | Accessible Publishers |
| Primary Complaint | Omission of Igbo pre-colonial history and achievements. |
| Government Action | Formal Disclaimer; warning to school proprietors. |
| Regulatory Status | Unapproved (Never reviewed by NERDC). |
The Broader Context: Why This Matters
The reintroduction of History as a standalone subject in Nigerian schools (post-2019) was intended to foster national cohesion. However, educational materials that appear to marginalize any of the major “tripod” ethnic groups (Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo) are seen as a threat to the “Federal Character” principle.
Observers note that this is the second major textbook scandal in a year. In mid-2025, the government disowned a separate book published by Tones Publishers that was accused of distorting Yoruba history.
