The Historical Society of Nigeria has urged states institutions to be objective in the teaching of history as one of the hallmarks of history and know the type of history that will be bequeathed to students.

This formed some of the recommendations  arrived at during the 61st Annual Conference of the Historical Society of Nigeria held in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

The event, with the theme:” Nigeria Counts: Issues of National Rebirth”, was attended by the rank and files in the society.

Chaired by Professor Godwin Tasie, the Historical Society of Nigeria deliberated extensively on the need for history to be embraced as its neglect has led to Nigeria’s current situation among which are insecurity, economic woes, crimes, corruption and embezzlement. Stressing the need for history re-introduction. The Historical Society of Nigeria opined that “A country without history is like a ship without direction”.

In his address, the President of the Historical Society of Nigeria, Professor CBN Ogbogbo, informed the gathering of achievements made by the Society among which are restoration of history back to the primary and secondary school level of educational system and sending of comprehensive revised curriculum of Historical textbooks to

NERDC (Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council).

He affirmed that since the cause for History teaching as subject has begun, he has received favourable responses from government. 

“We want a child growing up in Port Harcourt to widen the first six years of education in the school system; have knowledge of where he or she is coming from.” 

The erudite professor thanked members who have been supportive during his administration for championing the course for History subject restoration back to school and charged all not to rest on their oars as archival materials must be printed and preserved for references.

In his keynote address, provost of the Anti-Corruption academy, Professor Sola Akinrinade, said history as a subject has been taken for granted, hence, Nigeria is a country where citizens see their leaders as incompetent, corrupt and lazy.

 He added that before we can experience a happy country, we must correctly depict the complex history into analytical coherence. According to him “Issues of National rebirth are economic situation, national identity, crimes and corruption, under-development”. 

He informed all present that Historians duty is to harmonise the complexities of social realities into analytical whole, "If History is not embraced, the revolutionary birth would be too narrow," he said.