Class: Senior Secondary School 1 (SS1 / SSS1)
Term: 1st Term
Week: 7
Age: 15 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Tourism
Curriculum Theme: Trade
Previous Lesson: Tourism: Meaning Of Tourism And History Of Tourism Worldwide.
Topic: History of Tourism in Nigeria
Subject Matter: Pre-colonial tourism in Nigeria, Colonial tourism development, Post-colonial tourism development, Contributions in each period, Trends in tourism growth

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

Cognitive Domain:

Define pre-colonial tourism.
State the characteristics of tourism during the pre-colonial era in Nigeria.
Explain the development of tourism during the colonial era.
Identify key features of post-colonial tourism development.

Affective Domain:

Appreciate the historical evolution of tourism in Nigeria.
Value the contributions made to tourism development across different periods.

Psychomotor Domain:

Outline the major periods of tourism development in Nigeria.
List contributions to tourism during the pre-colonial, colonial, and post-colonial eras.

Discuss with peers the impact of historical events on tourism.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

9 Years Basic Education Curriculum for Social Studies.
State Unified Scheme of Work for Tourism, SS1.
Adepoju, A. (2018). Essentials of Tourism Studies for Senior Secondary Schools. Ibadan: University Press PLC.
https://www.ntdc.gov.ng
https://www.nigerianfinder.com/history-of-tourism-in-nigeria/

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

Charts showing timelines of tourism development in Nigeria.
Pictures depicting various historical tourist activities and sites.
Documentations on trends of history development in Nigeria.
Whiteboard and markers.

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils understand how tourism has changed over time in Nigeria. Knowing the history of tourism enables pupils to appreciate its current state and future possibilities, connecting past developments to present-day experiences.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils should have a basic understanding of what tourism is and some general knowledge of Nigerian history.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

History of Tourism in Nigeria

Pre-colonial Tourism in Nigeria

Pre-colonial tourism refers to travel and visits that occurred in Nigeria before the arrival and establishment of colonial rule. This form of tourism was largely informal and driven by local needs and cultural practices.

The following are characteristics of pre-colonial tourism:

Religious pilgrimages to sacred sites and shrines.
Trade expeditions within and across kingdoms.
Visits to extended family members and kinship groups.
Participation in cultural festivals, ceremonies, and celebrations.
Travel for hunting, fishing, and agricultural purposes.

Colonial Tourism Development

Colonial tourism development in Nigeria refers to the period during British colonial administration (roughly 1861-1960) when early forms of structured travel began to emerge. This was primarily for administrative and commercial purposes rather than leisure for the local population.

The following are contributions during the colonial period:

Introduction and development of modern transportation infrastructure like railways, roads, and seaports, which facilitated movement.
Establishment of rest houses and government guest houses to accommodate colonial administrators and visitors.
Development of some urban centres with basic amenities that could attract foreign visitors and serve administrative needs.
Promotion of hunting safaris for European visitors in game reserves.

Post-colonial Tourism Development

Post-colonial tourism development covers the period after Nigeria gained independence in 1960 to the present day. This era saw more deliberate efforts by the government and private sector to promote and develop tourism.

The following are contributions and efforts during the post-colonial period:

Establishment of government agencies such as the Nigerian Tourist Board (later Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation – NTDC) to promote and regulate tourism.
Development of major tourist attractions like Yankari Game Reserve, Obudu Cattle Ranch, and various cultural festivals.
Construction of modern hotels, resorts, and conference centres.
Increased focus on attracting both domestic and international tourists.
Promotion of Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage and natural beauty as tourist assets.

Contributions in Each Period

The contributions to tourism development in Nigeria can be grouped by historical period:

Pre-colonial: Facilitated cultural exchange, strengthened family ties, supported local trade, and preserved traditional festivals.
Colonial: Laid the groundwork for modern infrastructure, introduced formal accommodation for travelers, and created early administrative travel routes.
Post-colonial: Established formal tourism institutions, developed dedicated tourist sites, promoted national and international tourism, and diversified tourism offerings.

Trends in Tourism Growth

Trends in Nigeria’s tourism growth show a progression from informal travel to a more structured industry.

The following are trends observed in tourism growth:

Evolution from traditional, community-based travel to more formalized and commercial tourism activities.
Shift from travel primarily for trade or religious purposes to include leisure, business, and cultural tourism.
Increased government involvement in policy formulation, infrastructure development, and marketing of tourist destinations.
Growth in domestic tourism, especially during holiday periods and major events.
Emergence of ecotourism, adventure tourism, and cultural heritage tourism as niche markets.
Challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, security concerns, and inconsistent policy implementation have influenced growth patterns.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Lecture, Demonstration, Question and Answer, Visual Aids

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Set Induction
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and asks them if they have ever traveled to another town or state for reasons other than school. The teacher then introduces the topic: “History of Tourism in Nigeria.”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to the teacher’s questions and listen attentively to the introduction of the topic.
Learning Point: Pupils are engaged and prepared for the lesson.

Step 2: Pre-colonial Tourism in Nigeria

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains what pre-colonial tourism means and discusses its characteristics, using examples such as religious pilgrimages and trade expeditions. The teacher highlights that travel was mainly for cultural, social, and economic reasons.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, ask questions for clarity, and take notes.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the nature and characteristics of pre-colonial tourism in Nigeria.

Step 3: Colonial Tourism Development

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Exposition/Illustration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains how colonial rule influenced tourism development, focusing on the introduction of modern transport and accommodation for administrative purposes. The teacher mentions the establishment of railways and rest houses.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and note the key developments during the colonial period.
Learning Point: Pupils identify the significant contributions of the colonial era to tourism infrastructure.

Step 4: Post-colonial Tourism Development

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Elaboration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher discusses the efforts made to develop tourism after Nigeria’s independence. This includes the formation of tourism bodies like the NTDC and the development of major tourist sites.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and identify key post-colonial tourism initiatives.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the shift towards formal tourism promotion after independence.

Step 5: Contributions in Each Period

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Summarization/Categorization
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the specific contributions to tourism development from each period (pre-colonial, colonial, and post-colonial) and writes them on the board as a list.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils copy the summary of contributions into their notebooks.
Learning Point: Pupils can distinguish the unique contributions of each historical period to Nigerian tourism.

Step 6: Trends in Tourism Growth

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Analysis
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher discusses the overall trends in tourism growth in Nigeria, highlighting the evolution from informal travel to a more structured industry, and mentioning challenges and potential.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and contribute to the discussion on current trends.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the progression and challenges of tourism growth in Nigeria.

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

Define pre-colonial tourism.
Mention two characteristics of tourism during the pre-colonial era in Nigeria.
State two contributions of the colonial period to tourism development in Nigeria.
List three efforts made to develop tourism in Nigeria during the post-colonial era.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Recap/Assignment
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher briefly recaps the main points of the lesson and gives pupils an assignment: “Research and write a short paragraph on how one specific historical event in Nigeria (e.g., discovery of oil, civil war) impacted tourism development.”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the recap and note down the assignment.
Learning Point: Pupils consolidate their learning and are encouraged to research further.

Lesson Keywords

Pre-colonial – The period before foreign colonial rule.
Colonial – The period when Nigeria was under British rule.
Post-colonial – The period after Nigeria gained independence.
NTDC – Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, a government body promoting tourism.
Pilgrimage – A journey to a sacred place for religious reasons.

Differentiation

For pupils who grasp concepts quickly, the teacher will encourage them to research specific historical tourist sites in Nigeria and present their findings. For those who need more support, the teacher will provide simplified notes and engage them in direct question-and-answer sessions to reinforce understanding.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Teachers should use local examples where possible to make the history more relatable to pupils. Encourage pupils to share any family stories of travel or historical events that might connect to the lesson content. Visual aids like maps and historical photographs can greatly enhance understanding.