BY HAMMED HAMZAT, UI

The first female Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief (Mrs.) Folake Solanke, has charged stakeholders to reintroduce history as a core subject in primary and secondary schools, as this would engender inter-ethnic relations and coexistence amongst the different ethnic groups in the country.

Solanke made this charge while speaking at the presentation of a book entitled: The dynamics of inter-group relations in Nigeria since 1960 by the Department of History, University of Ibadan, in honour of Professor Obaro Ikime, who was former Head of the Department.

According to her, history has lost its status in Nigeria, therefore, the need for its reintroduction into the nation’s education curricula.

“The re-introduction of history as a core subject in our education curricula will enable students of this generation to know and appreciate those that have contributed immensely to the progress of our dear country.”

The book, which explored the major dynamics of inter-group relations among people, is a compendium of 24 scholars. Professor Ikime was described as the father of inter-group relations in Nigeria; little wonder Professor Ikime’s PhD thesis focused on Niger-Delta crisis amongst ethnic groups in the region and the influence of Europe.