In recent times, vested interests have raised the issue of our younger generation not being conversant with the history of their past because of the removal of history subject in the curriculum in schools.
There have been several appeals to relevant government agencies to address the anomaly and in response, the government had reintroduced history in the national curriculum of our schools in the last term.
The situation became so deplorable to the extent that some mass communication students from the University of Benin who visited a high ranking chief in Benin Kingdom at his residence could not tell him who moved the motion for Nigeria’s independence when they were asked.
The study of history as a subject in schools used to be one loved by students who learned about exploits of great men and women like Mongo Park who discovered River Niger, the Roman Empire and the Great Bini Kingdom, etc.
But today, since history was removed from the school curriculum, it became impossible for students to be acquainted with such past and contemporary historical events.
It is noteworthy, therefore, that the reintroduction of history subject in the national curriculum will no doubt change that ugly trend.This and other reasons led a Journalist and author, Pastor Eubaldus Enahoro, Deputy Editor with the Nigerian Observer in conjunction with the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Edo State Council to embark on a sensitization campaign to promote a reading culture and imbibing the virtues of honoring our heroes past by developing interest amongst students for the study of history.
With the theme, ‘Readers are Leaders” the campaign which include the unveiling of a book, copies of which were donated to students in the area, was held at the Esan North East Local Government Council secretariat hall, Uromi.
The book titled, “Nigeria and the Dilemma of leadership-An X-Ray of Tony Enahoro’s Perspective was donated to students of Buddy Secondary School, Agba Grammar School and Our Lady of Lourdes Girls Grammar School, all in Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo State.
The Chairman of Esan North East Local Government Council, Hon Okoibhoile Austine commended the Federal Government for bringing back the study of history in the school curriculum, noting that without history, the heritage of the people is lost.
The chairman who was represented by the Council Secretary, Hon Okoh Vincent appealed to students to imbibe a reading habit that will make them current with events around them.
Hon. Okoibhole disclosed how he used to visit the late Chief Anthony Enahoro whom he described as an avid reader of books, newspapers and magazines at his residence along Adeyan Avenue in Benin City. “There were always several books, newspapers and magazines which are used to entertain his guests,” he noted.
The Chairman who commended the theme of the campaign, “Readers are Leaders” therefore enjoined students to take the study of history serious and read voraciously.
The reviewer of the book, Comrade Igbotako Nowinta described the 156 page book as a compendium of a sustained life of committed, progressive, selfless and forthright leadership by renowned elder statesman, revered social thinker, political activist, distinguished parliamentarian and Journalist, Chief Anthony Enahoro who died at the age of 87.
“In a country where integrity, strength of character and commitment to the people’s wish and aspiration are in short supply, the book attempts to celebrate Enahoro who moved the historic motion for independence for Nigeria in 1953 for remaining steadfast in spite of the vicissitudes of life until he finally kicked the bucket on Wednesday December 15, 2010.
“Writing a book on Enahoro is not a particularly easy assignment because it is like writing on the political evolution of Nigeria. A single book can hardly suffice to discuss Enahoro’s historic involvement in the polity, just like talking about Nigeria. This book contains the views of the elder statesman on leadership and what his contemporaries thought about him.
“The reader friendly publication put together with his published speech on national issues, is not in anyway a biography and could be recommended to students as a reading text book by the relevant authorities including the State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB,” the book reviewer added.
The author of the book, Eubaldus Enahoro, who said the vision of the campaign was to inspire interest for the study of history and make free copies of the book available to students, noted that the book, which was approved for publication by Chief Enahoro before he passed on, will no doubt be handy as a sensitization tool for re-awakening interest among the younger generation for the study of history vis-à-vis the role played by prominent Nigerians in the social, economic and political development of the nation.
“We want to promote and emphasise the importance of the study of history for the younger generation. The removal of history as one of the teaching subjects from the school curriculum, no doubt created a vacuum which made them ignorant of their past. We also want to promote a good reading culture and inculcate the virtues of honouring our heroes past,” he added.
Eubaldus Enahoro who was a former Auditor and Financial Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Warri Correspondent Chapel in Delta state, disclosed that the content of the book on the foremost nationalist and proud son of Edo State, politician and Journalist who first moved the motion for Nigeria’s independence, Chief (Dr.) Anthony Eromosele Enahoro (CFR) is expected to be an invaluable source of history material for younger generation of Nigerians.
He expressed appreciation to the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Rt. Hon Comrade Philip Shaibu, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, the Chairman of Esan North East Local Government Area, the principal of Buddy Secondary School, Prince Eugene Olumese and Prince Omo Ojomoh amongst others for their commitment to the realization of the campaign.
