Gowon, Buratai For HSN 70th Anniversary In Abuja

Former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon, former Chief of Army Staff Lt-Gen Tukur Buratai are among eminent Nigerians billed to attend the Historical Society of Nigeria (HSN) 70th anniversary and lecture.

The event chaired by Professor Ibrahim Gambari marks the Society’s seven decades of scholarly contributions to national development and preservation of Nigeria’s collective memory.

The Acting President of the Society, Prof. Zara Kwaghe, made this known at a news conference Friday in Abuja.

Kwaghe said that the Conference of the Association of African Historians, themed “70 Years of Resilience: Honouring Nigeria’s Past, Envisioning its Future”, would herald the anniversary celebration.

She said the anniversary underscores seven decades of scholarly excellence and the Society’s enduring role in promoting historical research, education, and national development.

She noted that the celebrations began in May with the launch of the landmark publication, “Military Factor in Nigerian History, 1960–2018,” edited by Professors C.B.N. Ogbogbo, C.C. Osakwe, and V.S. Akwen.

According to her, the event also featured a series of colloquia at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; University of Nigeria, Nsukka; and University of Ibadan, all aimed at deepening national conversations on Nigeria’s historical evolution.

Kwahi said the 70th Congress of HSN would hold concurrently with the 6th Congress of the Association of African Historians, which Nigeria will host for the first time.

She added that the joint congress, scheduled for Oct. 13 to 16, in Abuja, would attract distinguished historians and scholars from across Africa.

“The opening ceremony will be chaired by Professor Emeritus Ibrahim Gambari, while the prestigious Dike Memorial Lecture will be delivered by Professor Emeritus Baru Zewde Wodajo from Ethiopia,” she said.

Kwaghe said the conference would feature plenary sessions and roundtables designed to stimulate critical reflections on history’s role in nation-building and Africa’s socio-political transformation.

The Acting President said the conference aims to highlight the Society’s contributions to academic scholarship and policy advocacy — including its pivotal role in restoring history to Nigeria’s school curriculum.

“This conference is not just a gathering of historians; it is a reflection on what we have achieved over the past 70 years and how history continues to shape our nation’s future,” she said.

Kwaghe reaffirmed the society’s commitment to preserving Nigeria’s heritage and inspiring future generations through research and documentation.