About Conference

The 70th anniversary celebration presents an opportunity to reflect on the Society’s achievements, honor its contributions, and inspire future generations to carry forward the torch of historical inquiry and preservation. It is a time to strengthen the bonds within the historical community, foster inter-generational dialogue, and raise awareness about the significance of history in shaping our national identity, nation and our connections to the contienent and the world.

Objectives

• -Commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Historical Society of Nigeria and celebrate its legacy.
• -Recognize and honor the contributions of pioneering historians and scholars who laid the foundation for the Society.
• -Host the Association of African Historians to foster collaboration and networking among historians, academics, and cultural institutions within Africa and beyond.
• -Promote the study of history and encourage young scholars and researchers to engage with Africa's rich historical tapestry.
• -Engage the public, academia, and policymakers in discussions on preserving and promoting Africa’s historical heritage and raise awareness about the importance of preserving historical sites, artifacts, and cultural heritage for future generations.

Theme: “70 Years of Resilience: Honouring Nigeria’s Past, Envisioning Africa’s Future”

• Sub-themes for the 70th Anniversary of the Historical Society of Nigeria and 5th Congress of the Association of African History.
• 1.Tracing the Journey: 70 Years of Historical Scholarship in Nigeria. This sub-theme directly addresses the commemoration of the Historical Society of Nigeria's 70th anniversary. It provides a platform for scholarly reflection on the evolution of historical research and scholarship in Nigeria since the society's establishment in 1955. Through this sub-theme, participants can explore the transformative milestones that have shaped Nigerian historiography, analyze key publications that have defined the field, and examine the society's pivotal role in developing a distinctly Nigerian historical perspective. Presentations on retrospectives on influential journals, critical examination of methodological shifts over the decades, and discussions on how the Society has influenced historical education and public history initiatives throughout Nigeria's post-independence era will be welcome.
• 2.Pioneers of African History: Honoring the Architects of African Historiography: This sub-theme aims to recognize and honor pioneering historians who established the foundations for historical scholarship in Africa. It enables focused examination of the intellectual contributions, methodological innovations, and enduring legacies of key figures in African historical studies. Presentations will explore the life works of founding members of the various Historical Societies across Africa, their approaches to challenging colonial historical narratives, and their lasting impact on contemporary historical research.
• 3.African Histories in Global Context: Reframing Narratives and Perspectives: This sub-theme encourages critical examination of how African historical narratives are positioned within global historical discourses. It addresses the ongoing project of decolonizing historical perspectives and challenging Eurocentric interpretations of Africa's past. Presentations could explore methodological approaches for centering African voices and sources in historical research, examine the interconnectedness of African histories with global developments, and propose frameworks for teaching African history that acknowledge its central importance to world history. This sub-theme would also consider how African historians can engage productively with global scholarly communities while asserting intellectual independence.
• 4.Collaborative Horizons: Strengthening Pan-African Historical Research Network: Aligning with the objective of fostering collaboration across Africa, this sub-theme explores frameworks for enhanced cooperation among historians, academic institutions, and cultural organizations throughout the continent. It draws inspiration from successful models of academic collaboration in African studies while addressing strategies for overcoming persistent challenges in resource sharing and capacity building. Sessions will examine existing regional research networks, propose new mechanisms for cross-border historical projects, and explore innovative funding models to sustain collaborative initiatives. This sub-theme will also address how African historians can effectively engage with global academic communities while maintaining autonomy in research agendas and methodological approaches.
• 5.Engaging the Next Generation: Innovative Approaches to Historical Education: This forward-looking sub-theme addresses the crucial objective of promoting historical studies among emerging scholars and ensuring the discipline's continued relevance. It will showcase innovative pedagogical methods for engaging young researchers with Africa's rich historical narratives through both traditional and digital means. Presentations will explore creative teaching approaches including role-playing historical figures, public history projects, oral history initiatives, and digital storytelling. The sub-theme will also address curriculum development strategies, mentorship programs, and institutional supports needed to attract diverse young talent to historical studies. Discussions will include both university-level historical education and approaches to engaging younger students at primary and secondary levels with African history.
• 6.Preserving the Past, Shaping the Future: African Heritage in the 21st Century: This sub-theme directly engages with the objective of promoting Africa's historical heritage preservation through multi-stakeholder engagement. It examines contemporary challenges and opportunities in heritage conservation, including the integration of preservation initiatives with sustainable development goals. Sessions will address community-centered approaches to heritage management, innovative financing mechanisms for preservation projects, and policy frameworks that protect historical sites and artifacts while making them accessible to the public. The sub-theme will also address the sensitive issue of repatriating African cultural artifacts from foreign institutions and developing continental strategies for combating illicit trafficking of cultural heritage.
• 7.Digital Frontiers: Leveraging Technology for Historical Research and Preservation: This sub-theme explores the transformative potential of digital technologies in revolutionizing historical scholarship and heritage preservation across Africa. It examines how digital tools are reshaping research methodologies, archival practices, and public engagement with history. Presentations will showcase digital archive initiatives, virtual museum experiences, geographic information system applications in historical research, and artificial intelligence approaches to analyzing historical data. The sub-theme will also address critical issues of digital access, infrastructure requirements, and training needs to ensure that technological innovations benefit historical scholarship throughout Africa, not just in well-resourced institutions.
• 8.Resilience Through Time: Lessons from Nigeria's Historical Narrative: Directly connecting to the main theme's emphasis on resilience, this sub-theme examines how historical knowledge about Nigeria's past can inform contemporary challenges and future aspirations. It provides a platform for analyzing key moments in Nigeria's history that demonstrate the nation's resilience through colonial occupation, independence struggles, civil conflict, and democratic transitions. Sessions will explore how historical understanding can inform current policy-making, social cohesion initiatives, and national development strategies. This sub-theme will also consider how Nigeria's historical experiences might offer insights for other African nations navigating similar challenges.

In addition to the above sub-themes we are also open to accepting very good abstracts in areas such as:

-Historiography and New Directions in History Teaching and Research
-Decolonisation of History and Heritage Curriculum
-Historical Studies, Artificial Intelligence and Social Media
-Environmental History and Historical Ecology
-Medical History, Pandemics, Epidemics and Disease
-Gender and Sexuality
-Biographies
-Sports and Leisure History
-Food, Drinks and Fashion History
-University Histories
-Sound, Film and Old and New Media Studies
-Palaeontology, Genetics and Forensic History
-Hauntology and the Ghosts of the Past
-Public History and History as Performance
-New Areas of Historical Enquiry – Surprize us!

Fee

- Abstract Submission Fee: N5,000.00
- Early Bird - ₦45,000.00 (on or before 31st August, 2025)
- Regular - ₦50,000.00(1st September to 11th October, 2025)
- On-Site - ₦65,000.00 (Event Day)