RELEVANCE OF THE STUDY OF HISTORY

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RELEVANCE OF THE STUDY OF HISTORY
            History is the chronological (or sequential) assessment of past events, a study which takes into account how those events particularly affects or relates to human beings. For the purposes of the course, Nigeria since 1800, ample benefits can be drawn from its study. For the sane person in the 21st century, the course, Nigeria since 1800 has a lot to offer to him/her who dutifully undertakes its study.
Some relevance of the study of the history of Nigeria since 1800 include:
1 - History helps us understand people and societies
History of Nigeria since 1800 offers a storehouse of information about how different people and societies behave in a multi-ethnic and religious entity like Nigeria. Understanding the operations of people and societies is difficult, though a number of disciplines make the attempt. How can one understand for instance, the consequentiality or inconsequentiality of the Biafra fight for secession unless we use historical materials? Major aspects of our society's operation, like mass elections or military alliances, cannot be adequately set up or properly managed if history does not provide us with the data for understanding the behavioural workings of people and the modern evolution that society has undergone. Consequently, history of Nigeria since 1800 serves, however imperfectly, as our laboratory. People need to have some sense of how societies function simply to run their own lives.
2 - History helps us understand change
The past has an inextricable link with the present, and so the future. Any time we try to know why something happened or is currently happening—whether the dictatorial attitude of leaders, the current bloodbath, the cry for secession, the marginalization of some sects in Nigeria, ethnic chauvinism, power tussle, educational decadence, religious fanaticism and the likes —we have to look for factors that took shape earlier. Sometimes fairly recent history will suffice to explain a major development, but often we need to look further back to identify the causes of change. This is what the study of Nigeria since 1800 affords us.
3 - History contributes to moral understanding
The History of Nigeria since 1800 also provides a terrain for moral contemplation. Studying the stories and lives of individuals and situations in the past, like the personality of Obafemi Awolowo, Prof. Dora Akuntily and others, makes it possible for one to test his or her own moral sense, to hone it against some of the real complexities he/she have faced in difficult settings. In fact, in this aspect, the study of Nigeria since 1800 helps that sane Nigerian person to know what honesty/ morality is not and what honesty/morality is.

4 - History Provides Identity

History also helps to provide us with our identity, and helps to protect our identity from extinction and this is one of the reasons the study of the history of Nigeria since 1800 ought to be highly encouraged. Historical data include evidence about how families, groups, clans, institutions, and even our country were formed and about how they have evolved while retaining some form of cohesion. Family identity is established and confirmed vis history. Many institutions, businesses, communities, clans and social units, use history for similar identity purposes. History of Nigeria since 1800 tells the national story and thus, is meant to drive home an understanding of national values/loyalty.  This is what the study of Nigeria since 1800 also affords one.

 

 

5 - Studying History is essential for Good Citizenship

This is the most common justification for the place of history in school curricula in Nigeria. The study of the history of Nigeria since 1800 lays the foundation for genuine citizenship by studying our national heritage, our heroes past and why we ought to be a hero and protect our national integrity and heritage. Since a hero is a good citizen and since, our national heritage can be maintained only by good citizenship, history is the tool for making this dream feasible. It is in this light that the study of the history of Nigeria since 1800 encourages habits of mind that are vital for responsible public behavior, whether as a leader, a voter, a petitioner, or a simple observer.
On the whole, the study of the history of Nigeria since 1800 is as necessary as food is necessary for life. Just as food is necessary for biological life, so history is necessary for our common national life. The above are few ways the study of Nigeria since 1800 can be of dateless relevance to the sane person in the 21st century.






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