The Federal Government has responded to a petition alleging the distortion of Yoruba history in Nigerian school textbooks, particularly claims that Ile-Ife—the ancestral home of the Yoruba people and cradle of their civilization —was founded or first inhabited 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 Supporters 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.
In the petition, the group identified 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 Ochinanwat as the carriers of false and misleading narratives presenting Ile-Ife as originally settled by the Igbo before Oduduwa allegedly invaded the area and evicted them.
Responding in a release dated June 11,2025 and signed by Boriowo Folasade, Director, Press and Public Relations, the Federal Ministry of Education clarified that the said textbook was not authored, commissioned, or approved by it.
It, however, assured that all necessary steps would be taken to address the anomalies identified and to ensure a fair and timely resolution that respects historical truth and promotes unity.
It stated, “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 Supporters of Truth, through its National Chairman, Otunba Abayomi Odunowo.
“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 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 affiliated 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.
“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.
“The Federal Ministry of Education remains fully committed to providing quality, inclusive, and culturally respectful education that fosters peace, understanding, and national development.”
The Daily Crucible had earlier reported that no fewer than a coalition of 130 Pan Yoruba, Itsekiri groups have raised an alarm of a deliberate plot to distort history of Western Nigeria, warning that the plot could lead to unintended consequences which include but not limited to clashes and conflict if unchecked.
The group said it is worried by two separate books one written by two Igbo teachers, Standard History Studies for JSS 1-3 and another by Tony Duru and Ijeoma Duru another titled The Igbo:People, History and Worldview by Don Eze and Chinedu Ochinanwata. The two books claimed that Ile-Ife, Warri and Benin were originally inhabited by Igbo and that Yoruba, Bini and Itsekiri monarchy developed from Igbo civilisation.
AYDM said the publications were allegedly approved by the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council, (NERDC) and the Federal Ministry of Education as study materials in the Igbo South East. The coalition said the approval could only have been due to grand scale corruption orchestrated by the authors to ensure the approvals.
In a statement signed by its General Secretary, Popoola Ajayi who is a product of History and Art at the University of Ibadan, the Alliance for Yoruba Democratic Movements, (AYDM) a coalition of 130 pan Yoruba, Itsekiri and civil society groups said the falsification of a people’s history is akin to treason against the age-long civilisation of the people of Western Nigeria.
“It is an aggressive assault by a people who appear to think they have neither history no ancestral values but in their loneliness need to forcefully attach themselves to those they envy,” AYDM said.
The publications also claimed that Edo, Warri and the Bini monarchs were founded and established by Igbo.
“This is ridiculous and portrays the Igbo as fraudulent, dishonest as if they are a people who have no civilisation but desperate to steal others and build their own history on fabricated propaganda. It ridicules the entire Igbo and destroys the Igbo self-esteem,” the AYDM said.
The group said the publications show that robbery, corruption, Advance Fee Fraud have been brought into the realm of intellectual and academic world in the most shameful manner.
“Those claiming Igbo civilisation came from Ife are a set of shameful liars. We do not wish to believe that Igbo people have no history of their own worthy of self-esteem. A proud and decent people should not be begging for relevance in the acclaim of others, they should not behave as if they have no past or that they have neither shame nor conscience,” AYDM said in the statement signed by its General Secretary, Mr Popoola Ajayi and Dr Kunle Oshodi.
AYDM said the Igbo have at one time claimed Congo and at another time claimed Israel and at another moment claimed Enugu Ukwu as their origins and wondered why the Igbo history is full of contradictions and inconsistencies to the point of self-ridicule.
AYDM said, “The Yoruba and Itsekiri will not accept people who portray themselves as historical orphans desperately looking for a father to adopt. Even if the Yoruba would accept orphans, not those who seeking orphanage but at the same time claiming multiple fathers elsewhere.”
AYDM said there have been series of publications by Igbo scholars in the past 50 years including accounts of Igbo history by Professor Kenneth Onwuka Dike who lived between 1917 and 1981 and described as one of the pioneers of African historiography.
AYDM said Dike was influential in the establishment of Nigerian National Archives and the Historical Society of Nigeria. He actually led several archaeological missions across Nigeria but never at any time traced the Igbo to Ile Ife.
“We are also aware of the first Professor of Igbo language, Umeeze Igbuzo. None of these scholars made reference to Ife or Bini as having anything to do with Igbo.”
AYDM said the Igbo are providing a deceptive and untruthful basis for the theft and vandalisation of other people’s ancestral heritage in the absence of an inspiring history which they lack or have failed woefully to invent one.
“We also see this as a Biafra plot. We are not opposed to Biafra but the Yoruba will rise up and fight any definition of Biafra that goes beyond the historical and ancestral limits. It is unfortunate that while the Yoruba consistently stretch the hands of friendship to the Igbo, a section, a significant section of it wants the Yoruba to be destroyed by all means.”
The AYDM reminded those spreading the propaganda to realise that all over history, the Yoruba have always been victorious in all battles and that if the Igbo shows to consistently sow wind, they would meet a whirlwind
