Articles · No. 13-14 (2006): Afrika Zamani: An Annual Journal of African History

4 - The Role of Historical Societies in Nigeria’s Development

  • Yakubu A. Ochefu
    Yakubu A. Ochefu
    Ph.D., Professor of African Economic History, National President, Historical Society of Nigeria.  
    Their articles →
  • Chris B.N. Ogbogbo
    Chris B.N. Ogbogbo
    Ph.D., Senior Lecturer, Department of History, University of Ibadan.
    Their articles →
· 2006 No. 13-14 Afrika Zamani: An Annual Journal of African History AZ

Abstract

This article examines the contributions of historical societies to the development of their communities. Using the Nigerian example, it posits that a distin- guishing feature of historical societies is in their quest to promote a sense of history among members of a given group or society. This salient feature of such organizations enables them to play a significant role in the task of national development. It proceeds to demonstrate that in promoting historical aware- ness, the role of such societies is inextricably tied to the role of history as a discipline in national development. Having demonstrated the role of historical societies to national development, the article concludes that since development is a product of change, and the subject matter of history focuses on continuity and change, it follows that development can only be understood and appreciated within the context of history. It is this strategic role of history in faciltating development that makes historical societies incubators of development.

Keywords

History Society Nigeria

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Author Biographies

  • Yakubu A. Ochefu

    Ph.D., Professor of African Economic History, National President, Historical Society of Nigeria.

     

  • Chris B.N. Ogbogbo

    Ph.D., Senior Lecturer, Department of History, University of Ibadan.

References

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  2. Afigbo, A.E., 1975, ‘The Flame of History Blazing at Ibadan’, Journal of the Historical Society of Nigeria, 8: 4–17.
  3. Constitution of the Association of African Historians, 2001.
  4. Constitution of the Historical Society of Nigeria, 2007. Constitution of the Lutheran Historical Society, n.d.
  5. Daniels, R.V., 1972, Studying History, How and Why?, Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall Inc.
  6. Ikime, O., 2006, History, the Historian and the Nation, Ibadan: Heinemann Educational Books.
  7. Plumb, J.H., 1971, The Death of the Past, Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
  8. Raymond, F., 1994, The Egyptian Book of the Dead, San Francisco: Chronicle Books.
  9. Strudwick, H., 2006, The Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt, Singapore, De Agostini UK.
  10. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ma’at//References
  11. http://www.dubosic.net/sankofaMeaning.html

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