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WAEC Syllabus for History 2025/2026

Igberi David Post a Comment
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2025 WAEC Syllabus for History officially released by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC). Download and study the History WAEC Syllabus.
The 2025 WAEC Syllabus for History has been officially released by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC). This syllabus is designed for both internal and external candidates preparing for the examination.
Below is the updated History WAEC syllabus for 2025/2026, which includes the aims and objectives, scheme of examination, and detailed topics to study.

Aims and Objectives

The History syllabus is structured to help candidates:

  • Gain knowledge of national history from the earliest times to the year 2000, with focus on the relationship between peoples and states.

  • Develop intellectual skills in historical interpretation and analysis.

  • Relate past events to modern issues and situations.

  • Appreciate factors that promote national unity and global understanding.

  • Recognize similarities and differences in political and social institutions.

  • Understand key historical developments in West Africa up to 2000.

  • Link national and West African history to events in the wider world.

  • Present clear, logical, and relevant arguments in historical discussions.

Scheme of Examination

The exam will consist of two papers: Paper 1 and Paper 2. Both must be taken at one sitting.

Paper 1

  • Objective test of 50 multiple-choice questions.

  • Duration: 1 hour.

  • Marks: 40.

Paper 2

  • Essay-type paper divided into sections.

  • Duration: 2 hours.

  • Marks: 60.

For Nigeria, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, and Liberia, questions will be set under:

  • Section A: From the earliest times to 1800

  • Section B: The 19th Century

  • Section C: 1900–2000

For Ghana, questions will cover:

  • Section A: Landmarks of African history (earliest times to AD 1800)

  • Section B: Ghana and the wider world (earliest times to AD 1900)

  • Section C: Ghana (AD 1900–1991)

Each section contains three questions. Candidates must attempt four questions in total, with at least one question from each section.

Waec syllabus for History

Detailed WAEC History Syllabus

West Africa and the Wider World (Earliest Times to 2000)

  • Historiography and Historical Skills: meaning of history, importance, sources, ancient and modern methods, role of ICT.

  • Trans-Saharan Trade: origin, organization, impact on West African states.

  • Islam in West Africa: introduction, spread, and effects.

  • European Contact with West Africa: motives, immediate impact, and reactions of West Africans.

  • Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade: origin, organization, effects, and eventual abolition.

  • Christian Missionary Activities: role in suppressing the slave trade and their influence on West Africa.

  • Scramble for and Partition of West Africa: industrial revolution, colonial conquest, occupation, and African resistance.

  • Colonial Rule in West Africa: administration, culture, economy, and role during the World Wars.

  • Problems of Independent West African States: neo-colonialism, underdevelopment, instability, military rule, and boundary issues.

  • West Africa and International Organizations: UNO, OAU/AU, ECOWAS, Commonwealth, etc.

The Gambia (For Candidates in The Gambia Only)

Section A: From Earliest Times to 2000

  • Origin, organization, and cultural life of Wollof, Mandinka, Fula, Jola, Krio, Serahuli.

  • Indigenous crafts and industries: pottery, salt-making, iron-working, leather works, weaving, tie & dye, boat building, etc.

  • Early European contacts, trade, and spread of Christianity.

  • Spread of Islam.

  • Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade: origin, organization, and impact.

Section B: The Gambia in the 19th Century

  • Suppression of the slave trade.

  • Founding of Bathurst (Banjul).

  • Christian missionary activities.

  • Soninke-Marabout wars and colonial responses.

  • Resistance leaders such as Foday Kombo Sillah and Musa Molloh Baldeh.

Section C: The Gambia (1900–2000)

  • British colonial administration and indirect rule.

  • Social and economic developments: agriculture, transportation, education, and health.

  • Local government and political developments.

  • Struggles for independence and post-independence challenges.

  • 1981 attempted coup and 1994 coup (AFPRC).

  • The Second Republic (1996–2000).

  • The Gambia’s role in international organizations: UNO, Commonwealth, OAU/AU, ECOWAS.

Ghana (For Candidates in Ghana Only)

Section A: Landmarks of African History (Earliest Times – 1800)

  • African pre-history, hunters and gatherers, early communities.

  • Ancient Egypt: kingdoms, farming, technology, architecture, religion.

  • Ethiopia and Axum: rise, achievements, spread of Christianity.

  • Bantu migrations and civilizations: Zimbabwe, Mapungubwe, Kisale.

  • Swahili civilization: economy, architecture, language, and culture.

  • West African states: Ghana, Mali, Songhai, Kanem-Bornu, Hausa states.

  • Forest and coastal states: Oyo, Ife, Asante, Dahomey, Igbo, etc.

Section B: Ghana and the Wider World (Earliest Times – 1900)

  • Trade, external relations, and cultural exchanges.

Section C: Ghana (1900–1991)

  • Colonial rule, independence movements, political developments, and post-independence history.

Section B: Ghana and the Wider World (Earliest Times – A.D. 1900)

  • Introduction to Ghana’s history: sources, methods, and pre-history.

  • Hunters, gatherers, and early farmers (Kintampo culture).

  • Rise of towns such as Begho and Bono-Manso.

  • Peopling of Ghana: Northern, Forest, and Coastal zones.

  • Formation of states and kingdoms: Dagomba, Gonja, Asante, Fante, Ga, etc.

  • Social, political, and cultural developments.

  • Pre-colonial technology and art forms (pottery, brass casting, textiles).

  • Local and long-distance trade (gold, kola, salt, beads).

  • Early European contact and the impact of trade and the Atlantic slave trade.

  • Partition of West Africa and the Berlin Conference.

  • Activities of Christian missionaries in education, health, and religion.

  • Political developments such as the Bond of 1844 and the Aborigines Rights Protection Society.

Section C: Ghana (A.D. 1900 – 1991)

  • Nationalist movements and political parties (UGCC, CPP, NLM).

  • Role of early leaders: J.B. Danquah, Kwame Nkrumah, Paa Grant.

  • Economic and social changes: agriculture, mining, timber, cocoa, transport, education, health.

  • The Nkrumah era: political, economic, and social achievements.

  • Fall of Nkrumah and post-independence governments (NLC, NRC, AFRC, PNDC).

  • Ghana’s role in international bodies (UN, AU, ECOWAS, Commonwealth, NAM).

Liberia (For Candidates in Liberia Only)

  • Pre-1800 Liberia: land, people, migration, kingdoms, Islam, crafts, and European contact.

  • 19th-century Liberia: colonization, settlers, missionaries, independence (1847), early political institutions.

  • 20th-century Liberia: political developments, civil war, Charles Taylor’s administration, and membership in UN, AU, ECOWAS, MRU.

Nigeria (For Candidates in Nigeria Only)

  • Early Nigeria (before 1800): land, people, Nok, Ife, Igbo Ukwu, Benin, centralized/non-centralized states, crafts, industries, and trans-Saharan trade.

  • 19th-century Nigeria: Sokoto Caliphate, Borno, missionary activities, Yoruba wars, Benin Kingdom, British conquest.

  • 20th-century Nigeria: colonial rule, amalgamation of 1914, nationalism, independence (1960).

  • Nigeria since independence: First Republic, coups, civil war, military regimes, democratic governments, and challenges (poverty, corruption, unemployment).

  • Nigeria’s role in international organizations (UN, AU, OPEC, ECOWAS).

Sierra Leone (For Candidates in Sierra Leone Only)

  • Pre-1800 Sierra Leone: Temne, Mende, Limba, Loko, indigenous industries, Mane invasions, early European contact, slave trade, and Islam.

  • 19th-century Sierra Leone: settlement colony, Krio, missionaries, Samori Toure, protectorate declaration, Hut Tax War.

  • 20th-century Sierra Leone: constitutional developments, independence (1961), post-independence governments, rebel war, peace efforts.

  • Role in international organizations (UN, AU, ECOWAS, MRU, Commonwealth).

Suggested Reading List

  • Buah, F. K. A History of West Africa from AD 1000 (1986).

  • Crowder, M. West Africa: An Introduction to Its History (1977).

  • Eluwa, G. I. C. et al. A History of Nigeria for Schools and Colleges (1988).

  • Okafor, L. M. History for Senior Secondary Schools (Books 1–3).

  • Onwubiko, K. B. C. School Certificate History of West Africa (1982).

  • Webster, J. B., Boahen, A. A., & Tidy, M. The Revolutionary Years: West Africa Since 1800 (1980).

Download Complete Syllabus for History PDF

You can view the History WAEC Syllabus 2025 in text format above or download the full syllabus as a PDF for offline use.

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Note: This marks the completion of the WAEC Syllabus for History 2025. Students are advised to study each section thoroughly to be well-prepared for the examination.
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