…as Ukeh, Kalu emphasise study of history
Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, has all it takes to surmount all challenges confronting it, emerge a better nation and take its pride of place in the comity of nations, but this requires all hands to be on deck.
A former military Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, expressed this optimism in Abuja on Thursday at the launch of a book titled ‘The Making of Modern Nigeria – From the Pre-Colonial Era Till Date’.
Abubakar said the book, published by The Sun Publishing Company Limited, was an encapsulation of the rich heritage of “our country engraved in an indelible form”.
He said Nigeria was going through tortuous times, but the challenges were surmountable, even as the country approaches 63 years of independence.
“Few days from today, our country will be celebrating its 63rd independence anniversary. It has been 63 years of continuous efforts at making the country better and for us as a nation to achieve our full potential. We have seen the good. We have seen the bad. And we have hope for the best in the future,” Abubakar said.
“Nigeria is, no doubt, going through some challenges. No matter what we think or say, this prevailing atmosphere of faltering steps, great anxiety, and recrimination is not peculiar to Nigeria. It is a natural phenomenon.
“The good news is that we have all it takes to surmount all our challenges and press forward to a better Nigeria. To achieve this, all hands must be on deck to change our trajectory and make it possible for Nigeria to take its pride of place in the comity of nations,” he said.
The former military Head of State said a necessary first step in achieving the desired progress was to examine how the past was charted, and that was what make the book, ‘The Making of Modern Nigeria’, auspicious.
“When we know about Nigeria, we will have invaluable insights to understanding the present-day challenges and the way out of the quagmire. Doing so uncannily reminds us of the exhortation of the great Chinese philosopher, Confuscius: ‘Study the past if you must define the future’,” he said.
“Knowing Nigeria’s rich past and its present will serve as a springboard for us to work for the realization of our collective aspiration in the no distant future. I believe that the Nigeria of our dreams is possible when we contribute our quota with every sense of patriotism and nationalism,” he further said.
Abubakar commended the authors for dedicating the book to “Nigeria’s founding fathers and those who believe that some good will still come out of the country”, saying his generation had played its part in the making of a modern Nigeria and it was now in the hands of today’s and the future generations to play their roles for the making of a supersonic Nigeria.
He recalled that Nigeria was a notable beacon of hope for the black race in the pre-independence era and thee country’s achievement of independence on October 1, 1960 was both inspirational and reassuring for a host of Africa countries and, indeed, the larger global community.
“Post-independence Nigeria has continued to struggle for enduring success in an increasingly complex and competitive world. It behoves on each and every one of us as Nigerians and friends of Nigeria to join hands in making Nigeria better and greater. This we can do by ensuring peace reigns in our country, being each other’s keeper. We should also support our security agencies in whatever way we can,” he said.
The Editor-in-Chief, The Sun Publishing Ltd, Mr Onuoha Ukeh, in his address emphasised the need for Nigerian children to learn the history of the country, saying no matter how dark a people’s history may be, the children should know the history generally.
“This book is a work that tells the Nigerian story, highlighting different aspects of our national life. It talks about events, people, institutions and places. It is a book on Nigeria by Nigerians,” Ukeh said.
‘’Our children and students deserve to learn history in school and at home too. Thankfully, History as a subject is back in the curriculum of Nigerian schools. The earlier suspension of the subject could have made our children have limited knowledge of our history,” he said.
Ukeh said the study of history “is an education on a tribe, country, the people and traditions”, and “no matter how dark a people’s history may be at any particular time and the fear that its remembrance could affect national peace and cohesion, the children should know the history generally”.
“Countries with worse historical challenges teach history in their schools. It is, therefore, good that Nigeria has reintroduce history,” he said.
On the making of the book, he said the project started in early in 2020 by The Sun Publishing Limited, Bridgehead Communication Limited and Compact Communications Limited with the target of using it to commemorate Nigeria’s 60th independence anniversary. However, the COVID-19 pandemic stalled its progress and, thereafter, full attention was given to the project with a change of concept and focus.
Also speaking, the Chairman/Publisher, The Sun Publishing Limited, Mrs Neya Kalu, said the book was not merely ink on paper but about the history of Nigeria.
She commended the contributions of all stakeholders to the success of the book, saying it was important to the future of the country.
“We cannot change the past, but we can change our blindness to the past. The Making of Nigeria cannot begin without taking note of our history and this is what this book was created to achieve. We take you through Nigeria’s journey in former years and how that has influenced her later years,” she said.
