JAMB Recommended Textbooks for History 2026/2027

History is an essential subject in JAMB UTME, particularly for students interested in humanities, social sciences, and related courses. Success in JAMB History requires a strong understanding of Nigeria’s political, social, and economic development, as well as Africa and world history. Many students struggle not because the subject is difficult, but because they do not use the JAMB recommended textbooks for History 2026/2027, which are aligned with the syllabus and exam expectations.

The recommended History textbooks provide comprehensive coverage of Nigerian history, West African history, African history, and international historical developments. They include topics such as pre-colonial societies, colonial administration, independence movements, political leadership, economic systems, cultural transformations, and world events. Using these textbooks ensures that you focus on topics that are most likely to appear in JAMB UTME.

This guide contains the complete list of JAMB recommended textbooks for History 2026/2027, strategies to study effectively using these textbooks, and answers to frequently asked questions about preparing for JAMB UTME History.

Recommended Textbooks for JAMB UTME History 2026/2027

The table below lists all officially recommended JAMB textbooks for History for the 2026/2027 UTME. These books cover Nigerian history, African history, global history, political developments, and cultural studies.

S/N	BOOK TITLE	AUTHOR	DESCRIPTION
1	The Politics of Mallam Aminu Kano	Abba, A. (2006)	Examines Aminu Kano’s political career and influence on Nigerian politics.
2	The Making of Modern Africa, The Twentieth Century Vol. 2	Ayandele, A. E. et al. (1986)	Covers major African political and social transformations in the 20th century.
3	History of West Africa Vol. I	Ajayi, J. F. A. & Crowther, M. (1971)	Pre-colonial West Africa, early kingdoms, and cultural developments.
4	History of West Africa Vol. II	Ajayi, J. F. A. & Crowther, M. (1974)	Colonial rule, resistance movements, and early independence struggles.
5	Emergent African States: Topics in Twentieth Century African History	Akinloye, S. A. (1976)	Formation of African states and political developments in the 20th century.
6	Nigeria Since Independence: The First 25 Years (International Relations Vol. X)	Akinyemi, A. B., Agbi, S. O & Otunbanjo, A. O. (1989)	Post-independence foreign relations and diplomacy.
7	African in the 19th and 20th Centuries	Anene, J. C. & Brown, G. (1966)	Overview of African societies, politics, and economy during the 19th and 20th centuries.
8	Southern Nigeria in Transition, 1885–1906	Anene, J. C. (1966)	Political and social changes in Southern Nigeria during early colonialism.
9	African in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries: A Handbook for Teachers and Students	Anene, J. C & Brown, G. (eds) (1972)	Guide for teachers and students covering key African historical developments.
10	Tariki 25, Grassroots Leadership in Colonial West Africa Vol. 7	Ashiwaju, A. I., Croder, M & Denzer, I. R. (eds)	Explores colonial leadership and grassroots governance in West Africa.
11	Nigeria Since Independence: The First Years: Religion Vol. I	Atanda, J. A., Ashiwaju, G & Abubakar, Y. (eds) (1989)	Post-independence religious developments in Nigeria.
12	Africa and the Wider World Vol. 1	Barkindo, B. et al. (1989)	Connections between African history and global events.
13	Africa and the Wider World Vols. 2 & 3	Barkindo, B. et al. (1996)	Continuation of Africa’s interaction with global developments.
14	The Revolutionary Years: Africa since 1800	Boahen, A. (1969)	Chronicles African resistance, revolutions, and transformations.
15	The Revolutionary Years: West Africa since 1800	Boahen, A. (1969)	Focus on West Africa’s political and social changes.
16	Sokoto Caliphate: History and Legacies 1804–2004 Vols. I & II	–	Comprehensive history of the Sokoto Caliphate and its influence.
17	Nigeria: Background to Nationalism	Celeman, J. S. (1986)	Examines Nigeria’s nationalist movements and the path to independence.
18	Right Honourable Gentleman: The Life and Times of Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa	Clerk, T. A. (1991)	Biography of Nigeria’s first Prime Minister and political contributions.
19	Political Economy of Africa: Selected Readings	Cohen, D. I. & Daniel, J. (eds) (1981)	Compilation of readings on African political economy.
20	West Africa: An Introduction to its History	Crowther, M. (1977)	Introductory guide to West African history.
21	Nigeria: An Introduction to its History	Crowther, M. (1979)	Overview of Nigerian history from pre-colonial to modern times.
22	Trade and Politics in the Niger Delta	Dike, K. O. (1956)	Relationship between commerce and politics in Niger Delta societies.
23	Nigeria Since Independence: The First 25 Years: Culture Vol. VII	Ekeh, P. P & Ashiwaju, G. (eds) (1989)	Post-independence cultural and social developments in Nigeria.
24	History of Nigeria Vol. I	Falola, T. et al. (1989)	Nigerian history from pre-colonial to early colonial periods.
25	History of Nigeria Vols. II & III	Falola, T. et al. (1989)	Covers colonial administration, nationalist movements, and post-independence Nigeria.
26	Nigeria Since Independence: Public Administration Vol. III	Gboyega, A., Abubakar, Y & Aliyu, Y. (eds) (1989)	Focuses on governance and public administration post-independence.
27	Africa Since 1875	Hallet, R. (1975)	Pan-African history from the late 19th century.
28	An Economic History of West Africa	Hopkins, A. G. (1973)	Examines economic developments in West Africa.
29	Tarikh: Independence Movement in Africa (Part I) Vol. 3 No. 4	Ikime, O & Osoba, S. O. (eds)	African independence struggles.
30	Tarikh: Government in Pre-Colonial Africa Vol. 4 No. 2	Ikime, O & Osoba, S. O. (eds)	Governance systems in pre-colonial Africa.
31	Peoples and Kingdoms of West Africa in the Pre-Colonial Period Vol. 5 No. 1	Ikime, O & Osoba, S. O. (eds)	Focus on kingdoms and societies in pre-colonial West Africa.
32	Europeans Conquest and African Resistance (Part 2) Vol. 4	Ikime, O & Osoba, S. O. (eds)	African resistance against European colonial expansion.
33	The Fall of Nigeria: The British Conquest	Ikime, O. (1977)	British colonization and its impact on Nigerian societies.
34	Leadership in 19th Century Africa: Essays from Tarikh	Ikime, O. (ed) (1974)	Essays on leadership and governance in 19th century Africa.
35	Merchant Price of the Niger Delta	Ikime, O. (1968)	Economic activities in the Niger Delta region.
36	Groundwork of Nigerian History	Ikime, O. (ed) (1980)	Foundational textbook on Nigerian history for schools.
37	A History of Nigeria	Iseihei, E. (1983)	Overview of Nigeria’s historical development.
38	The Nigeria Civil War	Jorre, J. D. (1972)	Detailed study of the Nigerian Civil War.
39	A State and Society in the Sokoto Caliphate Series I	Kani, A. M. & Gandi, K. (1990)	Governance and society in the Sokoto Caliphate.
40	Africa (Third Edition)	Martin, P. M & Omera, P. (eds) (1995)	Comprehensive study of African history and contemporary issues.
41	Africa and Non-alignment	Mohammed, B. (1982)	Foreign relations of newly independent African nations.
42	Nigeria and the Reform of the United Nations	Mohammed, A. S. & Adamu, S. (eds) (2005)	Nigeria’s role in international governance reforms.
43	Forced Labour in Colonial Africa	Nzula, A. T., Potekhin & Zusmanovich (1979)	Study of labor systems under colonial rule.
44	Imperialism and Dependency: Obstacles to Development	Offiong, D. A. (1980)	Impact of imperialism on African development.
45	Shehu Shagari: The Biography of Nigeria’s First Executive President	Ojigbo, O. (1982)	Life and political contributions of Shehu Shagari.
46	History for Senior Secondary Schools	Okafor, I. (1989)	Comprehensive senior secondary school textbook on Nigerian history.
47	Africa Since 1880 (Fourth Edition)	Oliver, T. & Afmore, A. (1996)	Covers African history from the late 19th century to modern times.
48	The Second World War and Politics in Nigeria, 1939–1953	Olusanya, G. O. (1973)	Nigeria during WWII and political developments.
49	The Zulu Aftermath: A Nineteenth-Century Revolution in Bantu Africa	Omar, O. (1966)	Analysis of Zulu political and social transformation.
50	Certificate History of Nigeria	Omolewa, M. (1986)	Senior secondary school textbook on Nigerian history.
51	Peace-keeping and International Security in a Changing World	Onoja, I. (1998)	Nigeria’s role in international peacekeeping.
52	School Certificate History of West Africa	Onwubiko, K. (1983)	Senior secondary school textbook for West African history.
53	Nigeria Since Independence Vol. III	Tamuno, T. N. & Atanda, A. (eds) (1989)	Post-independence developments in Nigeria.
54	Nigeria Since Independence Vol. IV: Government & Public Policy	Tamuno, T. N. & Atanda, J. A. M. (eds) (1989)	Governance and public policy post-independence.
55	Nigeria Since Independence Vol. IV: The Civil War Years	Tamuno, T. N. & Ukpabi, S. C. (eds) (1989)	Political and social impact of the Nigerian Civil War.
56	History of South Africa	Thompson, L. A. (2000)	Comprehensive study of South African history.
57	Studies in the History of Sokoto Caliphate	Usman, Y. B. (ed) (1979)	Examination of Sokoto Caliphate history.
58	The Transformation of Katsina, 1400–1883	Usman, Y. B. (ed) (1981)	Historical development of Katsina region.
59	Studies in the History of Pre-Colonial Borno	Usman, Y. B. & Alkali, M. N. (1983)	Pre-colonial Borno and its governance structures.
60	Inside Nigeria History 1950–1970	Usman, Y. B. & Kwanashei, G. A. (eds)	Historical events, issues, and sources post-independence.
61	Nigeria Since Independence Vol. I: Society	Usman, Y. B. (ed) (1989)	Nigerian society and social structures after independence.
62	Election Violence in Nigeria: The Terrible Experience 1952–2002	Usman, Y. B. (2002)	Study of election-related violence in Nigeria.
63	Tarikh: Early African Christianity Vol. 2 No. 1	Webster, J. B. & Ikime, O. (eds)	African Christianity and its historical influence.
64	Apartheid and African Liberation: The Grief and the Hope	Wilmot, P. F. (1980)	History of apartheid and African liberation movements.
65	Northern Nigeria: A Century of Transformation, 1903–2003	Yakubu, A. M., Jumare, I & Saeed, A. G. (eds) (2005)	Political and social transformations in Northern Nigeria.
66	Emirs and Politicians: Reform, Reactions and Recrimination in Northern Nigeria, 1950–1966	Yakubu, A. M. (2006)	Interaction between traditional rulers and political leaders in post-colonial Northern Nigeria.

Recommended Posts:

How to Study History for JAMB Using These Textbooks

To prepare effectively for JAMB UTME History, start by following the syllabus and dividing your study into Nigerian history, West African history, African history, and world events. Focus on understanding historical timelines, causes and effects of events, and the roles of key personalities.

Use textbooks like History of Nigeria by Falola, History of West Africa by Ajayi & Crowther, and The Politics of Mallam Aminu Kano by Abba to cover the full spectrum of the syllabus.

After understanding the theory, practice past JAMB questions to identify recurring patterns, exam styles, and key topics. Take notes on significant dates, leaders, and political transitions, as these are often tested. Use timelines, charts, and summary tables to retain information efficiently. Regular revision, note-taking, and consistent practice are key strategies to score high in JAMB History.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Ques: Are these the official JAMB recommended textbooks for History 2026/2027?

Ans: Yes, all the books listed are officially recommended by JAMB and align with the UTME syllabus.

Ques: Do I need to read all 66 textbooks to prepare?

Ans: No, focus on 3–5 key textbooks for core topics, supplemented with others for practice or clarification.

Ques: Which topics are most frequently tested in JAMB History?

Ans: Nigerian history, colonialism, independence, post-independence governance, and West African developments.

Ques: Are biographies important in JAMB History?

Ans: Yes, leaders like Aminu Kano, Tafawa Balewa, and Shagari are often tested.

Ques: How can I remember historical dates easily?

Ans: Use timelines, mnemonic devices, and chronological summaries.

Ques: Should I focus more on Nigerian or African history?

Ans: Both are important; Nigerian history is emphasized, but African and global contexts are also tested.

Ques: Can I pass JAMB History by memorization alone?

Ans: Understanding causes, effects, and connections between events is more important than rote memorization.

Ques: How often should I revise History topics?

Ans: Frequent revision using notes, timelines, and past questions improves retention.

Ques: Are world history and global events tested?

Ans: Yes, especially African interactions with the wider world, colonization, and independence movements.

Ques: Can I score high in JAMB History with consistent preparation?

Ans: Absolutely, using the recommended textbooks, practicing past questions, and revising consistently can lead to high scores.