The Federal Ministry of Education has reacted to misleading reports and discussions surrounding a History textbook titled “Living History,” including claims of content exclusion and suggestions that the book has been approved for use in Nigerian schools.
In a statement, the Ministry said “Living History” is not an approved textbook and has not been recommended for use in any Nigerian school.
The Ministry explained that the book was never submitted to the National Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), which is the statutory body responsible for reviewing, evaluating, and approving instructional materials in line with the national curriculum. As a result, the textbook was neither assessed nor recommended by NERDC and does not appear on the official list of approved History textbooks.
According to the Ministry, consultations were held with NERDC leadership, alongside a review of the endorsed textbook list aligned with the revised curriculum. These checks confirmed that “Living History” is not an approved instructional material for nationwide use.
The Ministry urged parents, teachers, school proprietors, administrators, and the general public to ignore misinformation and avoid the use of unapproved textbooks. It warned that the use of such materials undermines curriculum standards and may negatively affect learning outcomes.
It added that approved textbooks reflect Nigeria’s cultural diversity, shared history, and national values. Stakeholders were advised to verify textbook approvals through official NERDC channels, stressing that “education thrives on truth.”
