NATIONAL EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL (NECO)
HISTORY
INTRODUCTION
In order to know about itself, how it came into being and how, why and when its development
started, each society in the world has its own history and the societies of Nigeria are not an
exception, thus, the need for history in our Secondary Schools, Universities and Colleges. The
6.3.3.4 system of education provides for the study of History in the senior secondary schools.
This syllabus covers the history of Nigeria from the earliest times to the present Africa and the
wider world since 1800 as paper I, and the history of Nigeria from the earliest times to the present
as paper II.
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this syllabus are to:
(1)enable the students to analyse the history of their own country and link the emergence
and development of their country as well as the destiny of their country with that of
Africa and the wider world.
(2)impart to the students knowledge related to the history of their own country, Africa and
the world.
(3)enable the students understand and appreciate the emergence of different peoples and
different cultures and how they relate to each other over time and to appreciate the values
in each social, political and economic set up.
(4)enable the students through comparative analysis accept the fact that the different socio-
political institutions of Nigeria's diverse peoples are tied to a single guiding principle of
social behaviour.
(5)provide a conducive atmosphere for learning more about the cultures of our nation, the
role history has played in the evolution of such cultures and enhance the study of
Nigerian culture.
(6)develop in the minds of the students positive attitudes towards patriotism, national unity
and nation building.
(7)develop in the students the ability to learn historical facts and to use the facts objectively
in making analysis that will lead to rational argument.
(8)generally arouse the students' interest in the study of the past and to inspire in them the zeal
that will maintain the consistency of their interest in historical studies.
(9)prepare students for study in tertiary institutions.
STRUCTURE OF THE EXAMINATION
The examination shall consist of two papers: I and II.
PAPER IThis paper shall last for one hour. It contains sixty multiple-choice
which attract 40 marks.
PAPER IIPaper II is an essay-type which is made up of three sections - Section 'A' covers
Nigeria up to 1800 AD; Section 'B' covers Nigeria in the 19th century, while
Section 'C' covers Nigeria in the 20th and 21st centuries. Three questions will be
drawn in each section. Candidates are expected to answer four questions in all,
but at least one question from each section. Each of the questions carries 15
marks; marking a total of 60 marks.
PAPER IAFRICA AND THE WIDER WORLD SINCE 1800 AD.
SECTION AWEST AND NORTH AFRICA
1.Islamic movements and the establishment of Muslim States in West Africa.
(a)The Jihad of Shehu Usman Dan Fodio and its impact on other
Jihads in West Africa.
(b)The Jihad of Shehu Ahmadu.
(c)The Jihad of Alhaji Umar.
(d)The activities of Samori Toure.
(e)The muslim states in the face of European colonization.
2.Christian Missionary activities in West Africa.
(a)i. suppression of the Slave Trade.
ii.foundation of Sierra-leone, and Liberia. The beginning
of christian activities in West Africa.
(b)Impact of christian missionary activities on West Africa.
3.The rise of Egypt as a modern Nation.
(a)Egypt from the French invasion to the rise of Muhammad Ali.
(b)Muhammed Ali, his reforms and early conquests.
(c)Muhammed Ali and the European powers.
(d)Muhammed Ali's successors: the era of Said and Ismail.
4.The Maghreb and Europe.
(a)The nature of Turkish rule in the Maghreb.
(b)Relations between the Maghreb and Europe.
(c)The French occupation of Algeria and Algerian response.
(d)French occupation of Tunisia and Morocco.
(e)Turkey and Italy in Libya.
SECTION B THE HORN, EAST AND SOUTHERN AFRICA
5.Zanzibar, Sayyid Said and Omani Empire in East Africa.
(a)Zanzibar at the beginning of the 19th century.
(b)Sayyid Said, and the rise of the Omani Empire:
Its commercial and political relations with the East African Coast and the
hinterland.
(c)European activities and the Omani Empire.
6.Buganda in the 19th century.
(a)Trade and politics to 1870.
(b)New development and the British occupation of Buganda.
7.Ethiopia, its survival in the scramble and partition of Africa.
(a)Emperor Theodore and the establishment of a monarchy in Ethiopia.
(b)Ethiopia under Menelik II.
(c)Survival of Ethiopian independence.
8.The Mfecane and the rise of new states in Southern Africa.
(a)Developments among the Bantu speaking peoples of Southern Africa.
(b)The rise of Shaka the zulu, Mfecane and its consequences.
9.The Great Trek and the rise of Boer Republics.
(a)Wars and British intervention in Boer-African Relations.
(b)The Great Trek and its consequences.
SECTION C:
10.The scramble for and partition of Africa.
(a)Industrial revolution, imperialism and the scramble for Africa by European
powers.
(b)The Berlin Conference and partition of Africa
(c)Colonial subjugation, occupation and African reactions.
11.Colonial rule in Africa.
(a)Patterns of colonial rule.
(b)Consolidation of European rule in Africa.
(c)Colonial economy and the under-development of Africa.
(d)Features of settler colonies in Africa.
(e)Colonial Africa and the two WORLD WARS
12.Nationalist movements and decolonisation of Africa.
(a)Colonial policies and African discontent.
(b)Formation of political parties and associations.
(c)External influences on nationalist movement.
(d)Nationalist movement and the regaining of independence.
13.Apartheid.
(a)Prelude to apartheid.
(b)The rise of African nationalism.
(c)Suppression of African nationalist movements.
(d)External reactions to apartheid.
(e)O.A.U. and the apartheid system.
14.Problems of independent African states.
(a)Nature of politics
(b)Neo-colonialism and political development.
(c)Neo-colonialism and economic under development.
(d)Unequal development within African states and instability.
(e)The military in African politics.
(f)Boundary disputes and the threat to African unity.
(g)Poverty.
PAPER II.NIGERIA FROM THE EARLIEST TIMES TO THE PRESENT.
SECTION ANIGERIA UPTO 1800 AD.
1.The background of History
(a)Definition
(b)Sources (oral tradition, written records, archaeology e.t.c.)
(c)Advantages and limitations of the sources.
(d)Its contribution to the construction of history.
2.Land and peoples of Nigeria
(a)Main geographical zones, main physical features and the impact of geography on human activities.
(b)Traditions of origin of Nigerian peoples (Kanembu, Kanuri, Hausa, Nupe, Igala, Jukun, Ife, Oyo, Benin, Itsekiri, Ijo, Efik, Igbo, Ibibio, Urhobo, Isoko, Idoma, Itv, Birom, Angas e.t.c)
3.Aspect of Cultural History
(a)Centres of Ancient Civilization
(b)Features, Artistic works and relations between centres of ancient civilization (Nok, Ife, Igbo-Ukwu, Benin, Diama and Dala)
4.Centralized States
State formation process of Kanem and Bornu, Hausa States, Nupe, Igala, Jukun, Ife, Oyo, Benin, The Delta States, Calabar and Itsekiri.
5.Non-Centralized States
Socio-political oranisation of Igbo, Ibibio, Birom, Angas and other people of the middle Nigeria region.
6.Inter-group Relations
(a)Economic activities and inter-group relations.
(b)The impact of migration, war and politics on inter-group relations.
7.External Influences
(a)The Trans-sahara Trade; The coming of Islam and its effect on Bornu and Hausa states.
(b)Early European contacts with the coastal states.
8.Nigeria and Trans-Atlantic slave trade:
its origin, its organization and effects on the Nigerian society.
SECTION B NIGERIA IN THE 19TH CENTURY
1.Sokoto Caliphate
(a)Its establishment, administration, relations with other states.
(b)The impacts of Sokoto Jihad on Nigeria.
2.Borno under the Shehus
(a)The emergence of El-Kanemi.
(b)Developments under El-Kanemi
3.European relations with Nigeria
(a)Suppression of Trans Atlantic Slave Trade and European explorers activities.
(b)Christian missionary activities, company rule, activities and their impact on coastal states.
4.Yoruba land & Benin
(a)The collapse of old Oyo empire.
(b)Increased British pressure on Yoruba land.
(c)Benin in the 19th century.
5.The British activities in Nigeria up to 1900.
SECTION C: NIGERIA IN THE 20TH AND 21ST CENTURIES
1.British rule in Nigeria, 1900 - 1914
(a)Nigeria from 1900 - 1914
(b)Amalgamation of 1914 and its significance
(c)Nigeria from 1914 - 1960
(i)its administration
(ii)indirect rule
(iii)colonial economy
(iv)social development
2.The decolonization process in Nigeria, 1922 - 1960
(a)Origin of nationalism
(c)Nationalist movements
(c)Attainment of independence
3.Nigeria since independence
(a)The First Republic, 1960 - 1966
(b)Coups, military rule, The civil war and reconstruction, 1966-79
(c)The Second Republic, 1979 - 1983
(d)Military regimes and the interim government 1983-1999.
(e)The Forth Republic - 1999 to the present.
Nigeria and the
(a)United Nations Organization (UNO)
(b)Commonwealth of Nations
(c)African Union (AU)
(d)Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)