- Federal Ministry of Education Clears Air on Controversial “Living History” Book
- The Ministry said the clarification followed public debates and reports alleging that the textbook excluded Igbo historical content
- Warned parents, teachers, school owners and administrators against using unapproved textbooks
The Federal Ministry of Education has disowned a History textbook titled Living History, dismissing claims that the book is approved for use in Nigerian schools or forms part of the national curriculum.
Eko Hot Blog reports that in a clarification issued on Monday, the Ministry said the book was never submitted to the National Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), the statutory agency responsible for reviewing and approving instructional materials for schools.
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As a result, it was neither evaluated nor recommended and does not appear on the official list of approved History textbooks.
The Ministry said the clarification followed public debates and reports alleging that the textbook excluded Igbo historical content, stressing that such discussions were misplaced because the book has no official standing within Nigeria’s education system.
According to the Ministry, consultations with NERDC and a review of the approved curriculum materials confirmed that Living History is not among the instructional resources endorsed for nationwide use.
It warned parents, teachers, school owners and administrators against using unapproved textbooks, noting that such materials undermine curriculum standards and could negatively affect teaching quality and learning outcomes.
The Ministry maintained that all officially approved textbooks align strictly with the national curriculum and are designed to reflect Nigeria’s cultural diversity, shared history and core national values, while promoting inclusivity and unity.
It urged the public to disregard misinformation surrounding the book and to verify the approval status of educational materials through official channels, particularly NERDC, before adoption in schools.
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