All 120 questions from the Basic Education Certificate Examination (Junior WAEC) (BECE) History 2023 Objective paper, with the correct answer and a full explanation for each. Free, no signup needed.
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History can be defined as an attempt to study the past by
History is the study of the past by enquiring into what happened.
One of the importance of history is that, it teaches us to
Learning from the past helps us avoid its mistakes.
History provides rich examples and illustration of successes from which societies might learn to be
Examples of past successes teach societies to be industrious.
The knowledge of the foundation of a society can be sourced from
History tells how a society began.
One of the major tasks of a historian is to identify
A historian searches for accurate information about the past.
The following are importance of history to a nation except
Creating jobs is not an importance of history.
The approach through which people can assess information about past events is
Assessing information about the past is evaluation.
An accurate enquiry about the past is provided by ______ source of history.
Primary sources give first-hand and accurate information.
Historical facts that are transmitted from one generation to the other verbally are
Facts handed down by word of mouth are oral traditions.
Who is a nationalist among the following personalities?
Herbert Macaulay is regarded as the father of Nigerian nationalism.
Information about the past activities of the government are preserved in the
Government records are kept in the archive.
Historical artifacts are mainly excavated and studied by
Archaeologists dig up and study ancient objects.
Objects that have cultural significance to places and people that inhabited them are
Such objects are artifacts.
The following are sources of history except
Rumours are not reliable sources of history.
The major reason for the study of Nigerian history is to
Studying Nigerian history helps us understand our country's past.
History is an important tool for nation building because it
Understanding between groups builds national unity.
The basic difference between history and story-telling is that, history is factual while story-telling can be
Stories may be made up, so they can be imaginary.
One of the importance of history as a discipline is that it
History rebuilds the story of past events.
The major concern of history are past
History is mainly about past events.
Which of the following is regarded as an original account of the past?
An eye witness account is first-hand and original.
Nok is located in which state of Nigeria?
Nok is in southern Kaduna State.
In which of the following areas were terra-cotta sculptures found in large quantities?
Nok is famous for terra-cotta sculptures.
The traditional head of Ile-Ife is known as the
The Ooni is the traditional ruler of Ile-Ife.
Which of the following archaeologists excavated the Benin artifacts?
Graham Connah led excavations in Benin City.
Ile-Ife is located in present day ______ state.
Ile-Ife is in Osun State.
The Nok terra-cotta sculptures were found in large quantity in
Many Nok terra-cotta pieces were found at Taruga.
According to Yoruba legend, Oduduwa took over power from
In the legend, Oduduwa took over from Obatala.
Ife culture is important because of its terra-cotta and
Ife is famous for terra-cotta and bronze heads.
Ife people built mud houses with ditches around the wall for the purpose of
The ditches protected the town from enemies.
Which of the following was classified as centralized state in pre-colonial Nigeria?
Benin was a kingdom with a central ruler.
Which of the following was not a centralized state in pre-colonial Nigeria?
The Tiv had no central king.
Terra-cotta figurines were first discovered in
The first Nok terra-cotta was found at Jema’a.
Benin learnt the art of brass casting from
Benin learnt brass casting from Ife.
Benin artworks were looted by the ______ in 1897.
The British looted Benin artworks in the 1897 expedition.
The remnants of Benin inner city wall was built by Oba
Oba Ewuare built the inner city wall of Benin.
Which of the following archaeologists excavated the Igbo-Ukwu site?
Thurstan Shaw excavated Igbo-Ukwu in 1959-60.
The Igbo-Ukwu bronzes contained secured vessels used for
The vessels were used for ritual purposes.
The objects found at Igbo-Ukwu site meant that there was an existence of ______ in the area.
Such fine bronze and bead objects show wealth in the area.
Which of the following objects were found at Igbo-Ukwu?
Roped pots are among the Igbo-Ukwu finds.
The major deposits of gold in Ghana empire were in
Gold came from Wangara.
Which of the following products was a major source of wealth to Ghana empire?
Gold was the major source of wealth.
The capital of Ghana empire was
Kumbi Saleh was the capital.
The earliest empire that emerged in western Sudan was
Ghana was the first of the western Sudan empires.
What was the major factor responsible for the rise of Ghana empire?
Trans-Saharan trade made Ghana rich and powerful.
Ghana empire at its peak operated a ______ system of government.
Ghana had a king ruling from the centre.
The first capital of Mali empire was
Niani was the capital of Mali.
The main source of wealth and revenue for the Mali empire was
Gold mining was the main source of revenue.
During the reign of Mansa Musa, Timbuktu became a great centre of commerce and
Timbuktu became a centre of Islamic learning.
The official language of Mali empire was
The Mandinka were the ruling people of Mali.
Which of the following was not a factor that contributed to the rise of Mali empire?
Kanem-Borno did not support Mali's rise.
Sundiata Keita of Mali empire was succeeded by Mansa
Sundiata was succeeded by his son Mansa Wali (Uli).
The following factors contributed to the decline and eventual fall of Mali empire except the
The Portuguese did not attack Mali.
Which of the following was the last empire to emerge in Western Sudan?
Songhai came after Ghana and Mali.
Songhai empire was established by
Sonni Ali built the Songhai empire.
The last emperor that ruled Songhai empire was
Askia Ishaq II was the last Songhai emperor.
Before her final collapse, the Songhai empire was ruled by ______ dynasties.
The Sonni and Askia dynasties ruled Songhai.
During the reign of Sonni Ali, the capital of Songhai empire was
Gao was the Songhai capital.
The final collapse of the Songhai empire was a result of
The Moroccan army invaded in 1591 and ended the empire.
In order to ensure effective administrative control, Mohammed Toure divided the empire into ______ provinces.
Askia Mohammed Toure divided the empire into five provinces.
During the reign of Sonni Ali, the prime minister of Songhai empire was
Mohammed Toure served under Sonni Ali before taking the throne.
The term centralized society refers to
A centralized society has one ruler at the centre.
Pre-colonial centralized states owe their emergence to
Strong leaders built the centralized states.
The Saifawa dynasty ruled in
The Saifawa dynasty ruled Kanem-Borno.
The expansion and development of Kanem-Borno as a centralized state was as a result of the introduction of
Islam strengthened the state of Kanem-Borno.
The head of the pre-colonial Oyo administration was the
The Alaafin was the king of Oyo.
The ruler at the centre of government in pre-colonial Ile-Ife was the
The Ooni ruled Ile-Ife.
Which of the Yoruba towns in pre-colonial Nigeria had no standing army?
Ekiti towns had no standing army.
The smallest socio political unit in pre-colonial Igbo society was the
The household was the smallest unit of Igbo society.
Which of the following groups carried out public work in pre-colonial Igbo society?
The age grades did the public works such as clearing roads.
The ‘nsibidi’ writing is associated with the
Nsibidi writing is associated with the Ibibio.
During the pre-colonial period, the Ekpe society was an important commercial organ among the
The Ekpe society controlled trade among the Efik.
Which of the following groups controlled commercial activities in pre-colonial Igbo society?
The Aro of Arochukwu controlled trade in Igbo land.
During the Atlantic slave trade, the Efik and Ibibio operated as
They stood between the Europeans and the slave sources, so they were middlemen.
Which of the following people developed a centralized state during the pre-colonial era? The
The Jukun built the centralized kingdom of Kwararafa.
The following were the ways through which pre-colonial Nigeria societies related except
Pilgrimage was not a way of relating among them.
A major platform for inter-group relations in pre-colonial Nigeria was
Markets brought different groups together.
Islam was introduced to Hausaland by the
The Wangarawa traders brought Islam to Hausaland.
The basis of relationship between Igbo and Niger Delta city states was more of ______ in nature.
Their relationship was based on trade.
The Edi festival is celebrated in
The Edi festival is celebrated in Ile-Ife.
The basis of relationship between Kanem-Borno empire and Hausa city states were religion, trade and
Kanem-Borno and the Hausa states dealt with each other through diplomacy.
Which of the following groups had no centralized government in pre-colonial Nigeria? The
The Ijaw lived in autonomous communities.
The pre-colonial Igbo society exchanged their farm products for ______ with their Ijaw neighbours.
The Ijaw were fishermen, so the Igbo exchanged farm produce for fish.
In colonial Northern Nigeria, the District officer supervised the
District officers supervised the Emirs under indirect rule.
The ‘paramount chiefs’ created by Fredrick Lugard operated in ______ Nigeria.
The chiefs were mostly created in Eastern Nigeria.
In 1890, Fredrick Lugard was appointed the ______ of Northern Nigeria.
Lugard became High Commissioner of Northern Nigeria.
The British Colonial government has its headquarters in
Zungeru was the early colonial capital of Northern Nigeria.
The motion for Nigerian independence was first moved in
Anthony Enahoro moved the motion in 1953.
As the Head of State in 1960, Nnamdi Azikwe was a representative of the
The Governor General represented the Queen of England.
At independence, the Governor General of Nigeria was
Nnamdi Azikiwe became Governor General.
On 1st January 1900, the protectorate of Northern Nigeria was under the direct administration of
On that date the British took over the direct administration of the Northern protectorate.
The Colony of Lagos and the Oil Rivers Protectorate were amalgamated in
The Colony of Lagos and the Southern protectorates were amalgamated in 1906.
The last territory of Nigeria to be conquered by the British in 1903 before the amalgamation was
Sokoto fell to the British in 1903.
Which of the following groups of people did not contribute to the processes of amalgamation of Nigeria?
Traditional rulers had no part in the amalgamation process.
British firms that operated on the Niger were organized into a chartered company in 1886 by
Taubman Goldie formed the Royal Niger Company in 1886.
The process of amalgamation of Nigerian territories was completed in
Nigeria was fully amalgamated in 1914.
The amalgamation of Nigeria was initiated by
Lord Lugard carried out the 1914 amalgamation.
The protectorate of Northern and Southern Nigeria were amalgamated in the year
The Northern and Southern protectorates were joined in 1914.
At independence, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was elected as the ______ of Nigeria.
Balewa was the Prime Minister at independence.
The term ‘nationalism’ refers to
Nationalism is the idea that promotes the interest of a nation's freedom.
Which of the following cultural organizations gave birth to the Action Group?
The Action Group grew out of Egbe Omo Oduduwa.
The following were the newspapers used by the Nationalists in pursuit of independence except the
The Daily Trust was founded after independence.
Nigerian trade unions were united in the struggle for independence under the leadership of
Michael Imoudu led the labour movement.
Which of the following personalities gave a strong support to the Nigerian Youth Movement?
Herbert Macaulay supported the Nigerian Youth Movement.
The first motion for Nigerian independence was moved by
Anthony Enahoro moved the motion in 1953.
Nigeria got her independent in 1960 and became a republic in
Nigeria became a republic in 1963.
The following cities served as “supply stations” to trans-Saharan traders except
Rano was a Hausa city, not a supply station on the desert route.
The following were the factors that contributed to the decline of the trans-Saharan trade except
The introduction of Islam did not cause the decline of the trade.
Which of the following cities was a southern terminus of the trans-Saharan trade routes?
Timbuktu stood at the southern end of the desert routes.
The commodity in high demand during the trans-Sahara trade was
Gold was the major commodity in demand.
Which of the following was not the responsibility of the Berbers during the trans-Saharan trade?
The Berbers guided and protected caravans but did not supply the trade goods.
Trans-Saharan trade refers to trade across the
Trans-Saharan means across the Sahara desert.
Which of these Portuguese explorers reached Lagos by 1475?
Prince Henry is the Portuguese explorer among the options.
The Yoruba newspaper, ‘Iwe Irohin’ was established in
Henry Townsend started Iwe Irohin in 1859 at Abeokuta.
The first mission station in Nigeria was situated in
The first mission station was at Badagry in 1842.
The demands for West African slaves during the trans-Atlantic slave trade was a result of the
The discovery of the New World created the need for labour.
During the trans-Atlantic slave trade, the Portuguese established a commercial base at
The Portuguese traded at Ughoton, the port of Benin.
The mouth of River Niger was discovered in 1830 by
Richard and John Lander traced the Niger to its mouth in 1830.
Mungo Park’s Niger expedition of 1795 set off from
Mungo Park began from the River Gambia.
The negative impact of the Atlantic slave trade on Nigeria was the
Many able-bodied people were taken away.
The British conquest of Nigeria started with the
The British attack on Lagos in 1852 began the conquest.
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