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The controversial history book
Accessible Publishers Ltd., publishers of Living History for Junior Secondary Schools (JSS 1), which stoked controversy by allegedly excluding the Igbo from the list of Nigerian tribes, have insisted that they worked according to the curriculum guidelines of the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC).
This is contrary to claims by the Federal Ministry of Education, which in a statement issued on February 3, 2026 and signed by its Director, Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, said that the textbook was never submitted to NERDC for review and evaluation under the national curriculum.
But contrary to those claims, Accessible Publishers Ltd said in a statement entitled “General public announcement”: “Our firm, Accessible Publishers Ltd wishes to clarify that all its textbooks are developed in strict compliance with the curriculum guidelines issued by the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), and are authored and reviewed by seasoned subject-matter experts.
Defending the content of the book, the publishers said: “After an internal review by our seasoned authors and professionals, we observed that page 27 of the book is dedicated to Igbo-Ukwu: Culture and Artifacts, where the history, artistry, and cultural contributions of the Igbo people are explored as part of Nigeria’s shared heritage. This section reflects our long-lasting commitment to cultural representation within curriculum-approved educational content.”
Concluding, they said: “We therefore invite educators, parents, and the wider community to read the book, explore the content, and form their views based on the complete material.
“Accessible Publishers Limited remains committed to producing educational resources that inform, inspire, and respect Nigeria’s rich diversity.”
The publishers’ explanations have, however, failed to calm frayed nerves, as calls continue for government to take action on the matter.
Dismissing the explanations, an Igbo leader who asked not to be identified said: “The publisher’s pushback is both fruitless and lacking in substance. The omission of Igbo from the table of contents gave it away and deliberate, while other ethnic groups were explicitly listed, cannot be credibly explained away like they tried, especially when Igbo is relegated to a distant mention on page 27. That is not a neutral editorial choice; it reflects a pattern of hate and Igbophobia.”
