JAMB Syllabus for History 2026/2027 PDF Download

Is History part of the subjects you registered in JAMB? If yes, here’s a guide on what to study for your next examination. The JAMB syllabus for History 2026/2027 aims to serve as a guide to prepare and test you knowledge of the subject.

JAMB History Syllabus Overview

Title	Detail
Exam Type	UTME
Exam Session	2026/2027
Syllabus Subject	History
File Format	PDF
File Size	215KB

READ ALSO: JAMB Recommended Textbooks For History 2026/2027

Why You Should Use The JAMB Syllabus for History

There are quite a number of reasons why you should use the JAMB syllabus to study for your next examination. You already have a lot to go through, so using the syllabus will;

1. Keep your attention to studying what really matters in your examination
2. Reduce your confusion i.e you’ll know what textbook chapters to focus on
3. Help you know the areas you still need help so you sharpen your weaknesses before exams
4. Help you track your progress topic by topic

Topics Covered in the Syllabus

1. Land and Peoples of the Nigeria Area
2. Early Centres of Civilization
3. Origin and formation of States in the Nigeria Area
4. Economic Activities and Growth of States
5. External Influences
6. The Sokoto Caliphate, The Sokoto Jihad
7. Kanem-Borno
8. Yorubaland
9. Benin
10. Nupe
11. Igbo
12. Efik
13. European Penetration and Impact
14. British Conquest of the Nigeria Area
15. The Establishment of Colonial Rule up to 1914
16. The Amalgamation of 1914
17. Colonial Administration After the Amalgamation
18. The Colonial Economy
19. Social Development under Colonial Rule
20. Nationalism, Constitutional Developments and Independence
21. The politics of the First Republic and Military intervention
22. The Civil War
23. The Gowon Regime
24. Murtala/Obasanjo Regime
25. The Second Republic
26. The Buhari Regime
27. The Babangida Regime
28. The Interim National Government (ING)
29. The Abacha Regime
30. Nigeria in International Organizations
31. Islamic Reform Movements and State Building in West Africa
32. Sierra Leone, Liberia and Christian Missionary Activities in West Africa
33. Egypt under Mohammed Ali and Khedive Ismail
34. The Mahdi and Mahdiyya Movement in the Sudan
35. The Omani Empire
36. Ethiopia in the 19th century
37. The Mfecane
38. The Great Trek
39. The New Imperialism and European Occupation of Africa
40. Patterns of Colonial Rule in Africa
41. The Politics of Decolonization
42. Apartheid in South Africa
43. Problems of Nation-building in Africa

Full JAMB Syllabus for History 2026/2027

Section	Topic / Theme	Contents / Sub-topics	Objectives
Section A	The Nigeria Area up to 1800	Land & Peoples: zones, environment, interrelations Early centres: Nok, Ife, Benin, Igbo-Ukwu, Iwo Eleru, etc. Origin & formation of states: Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Niger-Benue groups Economic activities: agriculture, iron smelting, trade routes, industries External influences: Islam, trans-Saharan trade, early European contact	Identify and distinguish various geographical zones and their peoples Explain human-environment relationships in Nigeria area Trace the origin and development of early states and polity Describe economic systems and trade in early Nigeria Assess the impact of external (Islamic, Arab, European) influences
Section B	The Nigeria Area 1800–1900	Sokoto Caliphate: causes, administration, relations, decline Kanem-Bornu: organizational structure, economy, decline Yorubaland: states, conflicts, internal politics Benin: structure, art, European contact Other groups (Igbo, Efik, Nupe): social, trade, responses European penetration: missionaries, trade companies, suppression of slave trade British conquest: motivations, methods, resistance, aftermath	Explain causes and effects of the Sokoto Jihad and Caliphate Discuss the political and economic features of Kanem-Bornu Analyse Yoruba political evolution and conflicts Describe Benin’s political & cultural structure and external contacts Compare responses of smaller groups (Igbo, Efik, Nupe) to pressures Evaluate the role of missionaries, trade companies, and suppression of slave trade Assess the nature and impact of British conquest and resistance
Section C	Nigeria 1900–1960	Colonial rule establishment & administration (pre-1914) Amalgamation of 1914: causes and consequences Post-amalgamation: indirect rule, native courts, native authorities Resistance movements: Egba anti-tax, Aba Women’s riot, others Colonial economy: taxation, forced labour, transport, agriculture, industries Social development: Western education, urbanisation, health, trade unions Nationalism & constitutional evolution toward independence	Describe how colonial administration was established and its features Explain the reasons, process, and effects of the 1914 Amalgamation Analyse indirect rule, native authorities and their implications Discuss significant resistance movements and their impacts Explain the functioning and consequences of colonial economy Evaluate social changes under colonialism (education, health, urbanisation) Trace the rise of nationalism and the path to self-rule
Section D	Nigeria 1960 to Present	First Republic politics: centre vs regions, revenue, minority issue Military interventions, coups, regime changes Civil War: causes, course, consequences, reconstruction Post-independence economy: planning, oil, industry, agriculture Social development: education, health, urbanisation, population growth Nation-building and challenges: federalism, corruption, security, integration	Analyse political dynamics of Nigeria’s First Republic Explain the motives and effects of military interventions Discuss the causes, progress, and outcomes of the Nigerian Civil War Evaluate economic strategies and challenges post-1960 Assess social development and associated issues Critique efforts at nation-building and major contemporary challenges
Section E	Africa & the Wider World	The Mfecane & the rise of the Zulu state European New Imperialism: Scramble for Africa, Berlin Conference, occupation African resistance & nationalism; decolonisation movements Africa in global events: world wars, Cold War, pan-Africanism, neocolonialism	Explain the causes and consequences of the Mfecane and Zulu expansion Analyse the processes and impact of European partition & conquest of Africa Trace the rise of nationalism, strategies for decolonisation, and outcomes Evaluate Africa’s role in global events and postcolonial challenges

How To Download The JAMB History Syllabus 2026/2027

Follow the steps listed below if you want to download the JAMB History syllabus.

1. To access the file, tap the download link on this page
2. Save the PDF to your mobile phone or laptop so you can access it anytime, even without data
3. The PDF makes it easier to plan for reading, organizing, and tracking your progress.

Best Ways to Use the JAMB Syllabus Effectively

1. Break the syllabus into achievable goals. This can be done by dividing the topics into what you’ll be able to cover in weeks or in months
2. Check topics that appear more often in past questions and leverage on that
3. Use the syllabus to point out the topics you don’t know too well and focus on them
4. Ensure you follow the syllabus chronologically so that you know if one topic flows into the next one

Conclusion

In conclusion, this syllabus serve as a guide to candidates who registered History as one of their UTME subjects. We recommend that they use the syllabus to make studying easier and less stressful.

Frequently Asked Questions on JAMB History Syllabus 2026

Is the JAMB Syllabus for History Compulsory?

Yes. The JAMB History Syllabus is compulsory if you want your studies to be worthwhile. You need to ensure you are on the right track, and that is what the syllabus is offering.

Can I Download The JAMB History Syllabus for Free

Yes, you can. The JAMB History Syllabus can be downloaded for free right here on the website.

Does JAMB Syllabus Changes Every Year?

Not exactly. Sometimes, it changes and sometimes, it doesn’t. You need to ensure that you are up to date to know whichever one they are using currently.

How Many Questions Come From History in JAMB?

Usually 40 questions

Where Can I Get The Official JAMB History Syllabus 2026?

You can get the Official JAMB History Syllabus for 2026 here

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