Press Release
For immediate release, Thursday 29TH January 2025
THE FATHERLAND GROUP
Please click on the video below to listen to the BOOK REVIEW of “CULPRITS – The People and the Paper that Made Nigeria by DELE OGUN” by Olakunle Kasumu
Background
On 31st January 2024, the Minister of Education, Dr Olatunji Alausa, speaking on Channels TV, announced that:
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has mandated that we put back Nigerian history in our curriculum. From 2025 our students in primary school and Government Secondary Schools will have that as part of the course of study in schools”.
The Minister prefaced the announcement saying:
“The National Educational Research and Development Council have just reviewed the curriculum for the basic education level. One important thing that has been missing in the past is Nigerian History. We now have people who are 30 years old who are totally disconnected from our history. It doesn’t happen in any other part of the world.”
History was first removed from the curriculum for the education of Nigerian children in 2008 – 17 years ago – meaning that a whole school generation has been produced without any education on the country’s history.
Statement
Fatherland Group believes that there is a time to stand back and criticize but that there are other times when citizens should step forward to support, government actions. The announcement made by the Government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, through the Minister of Education, of the Administration’s plan to return the crucial subject of History to our children, to bring them in line with best practice the world over, is an initiative deserving of support.
Fatherland is, however, concerned that in 2018, the then Minister of Education, Mr Adamu Adamu, in this same APC party, made a similar public declaration to wide acclaim only for the pronouncement not to be followed through. This is precisely why Fatherland believes the initiative should be supported by all.
Responding to the new pledge from the Government, Dr Femi Adebajo, a U.K. based Consultant Psychiatrist, wrote to Fatherland Group, on 9th January 2025, to say:
“History is extremely important for understanding how our past determines our present and influences our future. By History, we mean, the active pursuit of knowledge about the important events of our past, their elucidation and situation in our present context. The FG has recently, again, announced a return of the teaching of History to the educational curriculum of our secondary schools.
The book ‘Culprits’ by Mr Dele Ogun of Fatherland Group, is a worthy contribution to the genre of authentic Nigerian History, drawing on both established and hidden sources to cast the harsh light of irreverent scrutiny on the shaping of our country.
I would like to encourage the youth to grasp this mantle of education and enlightenment by providing 15 copies of ‘Culprits’ for free distribution to youths interested in authentic Nigerian History.”
Fatherland Group having assumed responsibility for the distribution of this largesse from Dr Adebajo now invites written applications from eligible Youths for the copies of the book which he has donated.
To be eligible, you must provide proof that you are a Nigerian aged 25 years or under. Your application must demonstrate your interest in learning Nigerian History, in no more than 1000 words.
Applications should be submitted:
(i) by email to [email protected]
(ii) using the “Subject: Return of History to Our Curriculum”
(iii) by the closing date 12th February 2025
Winners will be notified and announced on the Fatherland website on 26th February 2025
Fatherland welcomes contact (using the same email address [email protected]) from anyone wishing to support this laudable initiative of the Government to return Nigerian History to our children. Support can take many forms, for example sponsoring a mass print run of books.
END.
29th January 2025
+447960933267
