The Igbo Community Association (ICA), Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has strongly condemned a Junior Secondary School textbook titled “Living History for Junior Secondary Schools” for what it described as the deliberate exclusion of Igbo history.
In a statement made available to journalists, the association said the omission amounts to a “graceful distortion” of Nigeria’s historical narrative and an “aberration” that must not be ignored.
According to the ICA FCT, the exclusion of Igbo history from the textbook represents a calculated attempt to erase the contributions of the Igbo people to Nigeria’s growth and development, while promoting divisive and discriminatory narratives against Igbos and other minority groups.
The association therefore called on both the federal and state governments to take immediate action by withdrawing the textbook from circulation and banning its use in schools across the country.
It also demanded sanctions against the authors of the book—J.M. Itsekure, O.O. Olajide, and T.E. Taiwo—as well as the blacklisting of the publisher, Accessible Publishers Ltd. The group further urged the authorities to consider prosecuting those responsible for promoting what it described as divisive historical narratives.
In addition, the ICA FCT called for the confiscation and destruction of all existing copies of the textbook currently in circulation.
Reacting to the development, the President General of the association, Engr. Ikenna Ellis-Ezenekwe, said the group would not tolerate any attempt to erase Igbo contributions from Nigeria’s history.
“We won’t tolerate attempts to erase Igbo contributions to Nigeria’s history and development. This is a call to action for all Nigerians to stand against divisive narratives,” he said.
The association urged the federal government to demonstrate accountability by ensuring that Nigeria’s educational materials reflect fairness, inclusivity, and historical accuracy.