Towards History and Education for National Integration: Imperative For Peace and National Development In Nigeria

This paper looks at teaching history as a vehicle to encourage national integration in Nigeria, peace and national development. The paper is of the opinion that Nigeria as a nation and a conglomerate of many and varied ethnic nationals existing as an indivisible entity today: had a past that needs to be reinvented through the teaching of history for a proper perception of each other and a peaceful coexistence for national development. The author is of the opinion that the function of history in recreating the various past of many ethnic nationals that make up the Nigerian state is imperative now that Nigeria is faced with a lot of forces that tend to tear it apart. The paper brings to the fore the historical specificities that led to the fusion of the previously existing independent ethnic nationals to a nation-state. Given the poly-ethnic nature of Nigerian-state, manifest in cultural diversity, religious differences, and political/economic divides that challenges the unity of Nigeria . The author is of the opinion that national integration can be encouraged through the teaching of history of the various ethnic nationals, chiefdoms, kingdoms and empires that existed before the amalgamation by the British colonial government in 1914, thus encouraging peaceful coexistence for national development. Though using education as a vehicle for national integration is fraught with a lot of challenges and set- backs. However, given the imperative of peace for national development, the author proffers some solutions that can encourage national integration through the educational institution and that is the work of History.