NewStats: 3,265,405 , 8,186,628 topics. Date: Saturday, 14 June 2025 at 07:22 PM h4f1u

Nigerian Govt Disowns Textbooks Alleging Igbo Founding Of Ile-Ife, Vows Probe Into ‘Yoruba History Distortion’

The petition, titled Petition to Defend Yoruba History from Ethnic Distortion in Nigerian Textbooks, was submitted by the Concerned Citizens of Yoruba Origin and ers of Truth.

The Nigerian Government has responded to a petition alleging the distortion of Yoruba history in Nigerian school textbooks, particularly over claims that Ile-Ife—the ancestral home of the Yoruba people—was founded or first occupied by the Igbo.

The petition, titled Petition to Defend Yoruba History from Ethnic Distortion in Nigerian Textbooks, was submitted by the Concerned Citizens of Yoruba Origin and ers of Truth.

It was signed by the group’s National Chairman, Otunba Abayomi Odunowo, and addressed to the Federal Ministry of Education, Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), National Assembly Committee on Education, state education ministries, and other institutions.

According to the petition, two books—Standard History Studies for JSS 1–3 by Tony and Ijeoma Duru, and The Igbo: People, History and Worldview by Dons Eze and Chinedu Ochinanwata—contain false narratives that present Ile-Ife as originally settled by the Igbo before Oduduwa allegedly invaded and drove them out.

“The attention of the Federal Ministry of Education has been drawn to a petition titled ‘Petition to Defend Yoruba History from Ethnic Distortion in Nigerian Textbooks,’ submitted by the Concerned Citizens of Yoruba Origin and ers of Truth, through its National Chairman, Otunba Abayomi Odunowo,” the Ministry said.

“The petition raises concerns over alleged historical inaccuracies in a history textbook authored by Tony and Ijeoma Duru, and published by Tones Publishers. The publication is said to contain claims regarding the founding of Ile-Ife that have been described as misleading and potentially harmful to national unity.”

The statement further said, “The Ministry wishes to clarify that the said textbook was not authored, commissioned, or approved by the Federal Ministry of Education.

“It is not among the instructional materials approved for use in public basic education institutions across the country, and the Ministry is not in any way d with the publication.

“The Ministry appreciates the vigilance and concern of stakeholders regarding the potential of such content to misinform learners and provoke ethnic tension.

“While these concerns are valid, it is important to note that the Ministry is not responsible for materials that fall outside its regulatory framework.”

The Ministry, in a statement signed by Boriowo Folasade, Director, Press and Public Relations, stated that officially approved instructional materials are developed to meet national education standards and promote equitable access to quality education.

It also noted that the issue would be investigated in collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and other agencies.

“All necessary steps will be taken to address the anomalies identified and to ensure a fair and timely resolution that respects historical truth and promotes unity,” it said.

“The Federal Ministry of Education remains fully committed to providing quality, inclusive, and culturally respectful education that fosters peace, understanding, and national development.”

https://saharareporters.com/2025/06/12/nigerian-govt-disowns-textbooks-alleging-igbo-founding-ile-ife-vows-probe-yoruba-history

Kudos to the ministry of education for coming out to clarify the authenticity of the content of the books trying to distort history.

Below are the published books mentiened in tne report.

Ehn
Which school is using the alleged book

Lol. Na wah o.
Is this a form of eastern jihad or what?

I want to see the facts behind the book’s assertions.

Not only ile ife why not say igbo founded entire Nigeria.

Honestly I hate all these unecessary obessession of my own people toward the SW.

We claimed we don't like SW then let's keep off their matter only a coward deep head into what he or she claed hear she dot like.

Keepp off pls keep and stop all these useless obsession of SW.

We are the onee claiming Jews, we are the one claiming Uganda, we are the one claiming Sudaness, we are the one claiming Bob The Builders of the universe a ka world developer pls na only us? Why life too pepper us for head these much, why?

You don't like the SW and now it is same people trying to claim things that belong to the SW...

I don't believe Igbos founded Ile-Ife

Yorubas are different, look different, act different, and have cultural practices that do not suggest they have the same root as Igbo culture.
We have much older art works, and Yorubas are generally darker in complexion than the Igbos, so it will take a huge explaining effort to explain this anomaly away

If the textbook is not part of approved textbooks for the syllabus, then it has no business with ministry of education.

Many have written about a coup and called it 'Igbo coup' but no petition has been written against those propagandists.

Talking about facts. What evidence do you people have that Oduduwa fell from the sky?

Nothing these people can not fake in life. They don't know their own history and origin, but they want to rewrite history of another person. These writers have brought national disgrace to themselves and open room for more insults.

Now, the text books will be banned and federal agency in charge of education and book regulatory may now wake up again like NAFDAC and NDLEA. Their forefathers that were more closers to the ancestors did not write or document that kinds of history, but it is now in the age of AI and modernization that they this history now

Hmmm na wa o, imagine this, how can the government be this inconsiderate

Fact is Igbo ancestors were at Ife, yes, same Ile Ife, and I heard it first from the Oni of Ife. What I don't know is if they were the first to settle there, and that is where the government should dig up in earnest search for truth and fact.

And as for those of you jumping up and down over what you know next to nothing about, the present Igbo is not planning to come back to Ife for any reason, in fact it was the Oni himself that was asking Igbos not to forget they moved from Ife.

Let the government set up a committee of enquiry to look into history.

Igbos have been in Ife which the Oni himself spoke about severally that Igbos were once at Ife, and same as benin.

I heard Oni of Ife in a video telling Igbo people that they moved from Ife in the olden days.
Government should do a finding rather than dismiss the book entirely just to be politically right.

Going through comments on this threads showed how obviously there little number of learned people on nairaland. No brainstorming, no academic exchange, just blind and ignorant arguments from people who know next to nothing about the topic.

FYI Igbo ancestors were at Ile Ife, go and dig up. The question here is, we're they the first.

Oh this is nothing, give it a time and we’ll soon find out the the Igbos founded China!

Slytiger:
Nigerian Govt Disowns Textbooks Alleging Igbo Founding Of Ile-Ife, Vows Probe Into ‘Yoruba History Distortion’



https://saharareporters.com/2025/06/12/nigerian-govt-disowns-textbooks-alleging-igbo-founding-ile-ife-vows-probe-yoruba-history

We like tribal sentiment a lot in Nigeria.

Is there historical evidence to that or not

thesicilian:
Lol. Na wah o.
Is this a form of eastern jihad or what?

LOL "eastern jihad" 😂🤣

Nairaland no go kee person 😂

May God save us from these people 🙏🙏🙏 cos this is something else

Do your research and stop and stop complaining

What exactly is the problem with yorubas and Igbos kwanu


ROFOROFO Fight between Yorubas and Igbos go plenty today

Ayam a proud and full blooded omoluabi.
But ama gonna sit on the fence and have fun

Haa. This is interesting. Who wrote the book in the first place?

Igbos the most intelligent black people
Hate it or love it . The igbo is on top

we really need history studies in our schools, how can you define your future if you dont know your past

Slytiger:
Nigerian Govt Disowns Textbooks Alleging Igbo Founding Of Ile-Ife, Vows Probe Into ‘Yoruba History Distortion’



https://saharareporters.com/2025/06/12/nigerian-govt-disowns-textbooks-alleging-igbo-founding-ile-ife-vows-probe-yoruba-history

Misplaced priority. The Yoruba intelligentsia should also commission a research to investigate and counter the alleged misrepresentation. The public should be exposed to both schools of thought and make up their minds accordingly.
This sudden rush of blood to the brain, and heating up of the polity, is not necessary.

Boriowo Folasade reacting to a petition from Otunba Abayomi Odunowo against Eze and Chinedu Ochinanwata has ethnic bias written all over it. The federal government should not be involved in this.

Seun .We diasporas can't comment again in peace