Junior WAEC 2026 Questions History [Revealed!]

This is for BECE Candidates looking for Junior WAEC 2026 Questions and Answers History. The History paper is compulsory for all candidates regardless of their school. So, here you will get genuine Junior WAEC 2026 Questions and Answers for History. Your duty now is to read through them as many times as possible and get ready to smash your forthcoming paper. Remember to use the comments sections if you have questions, and don’t forget to join our Free Online BECE Tutorials on YouTube (Subscribe to the Channel)

What are Junior WAEC 2026 Questions and Answers History?

Junior WAEC 2026 Questions and Answers History are the questions you should expect in your History paper in 2026 BECE, together with their answers.

It is very important that every candidate preparing to sit for History in the forthcoming 2026 BECE examination should catch a glimpse of these questions.

In so doing, they will know what to expect in the exam hall. Knowing exactly what to expect will boost their confidence and guarantee them a very high score.

Junior WAEC 2026 History Questions and Answers Revealed!

On this page, we shall reveal Junior WAEC 2026 Questions and Answers for all candidates taking the History paper.

How lucky you are to stumble upon this important page!

The questions are genuine and the answers are accurate, and all are a product of our burning passion to see you excel in your BECE and proceed to Senior Secondary School.

In the following sections, you will read the History questions you are to expect in your 2026 Junior WAEC exam as well as their answers. You can use the comments section if you still need clarification over some of the questions. We will give you a more detailed explanation.

BECE is a very serious and important examination. You will answer 60 questions in BECE History 2026 within 2 hours. So it’s important that you pay attention to the information revealed on this page.

Junior WAEC 2026 Questions and Answers History [Numbers 1 – 10]

1. History can be defined as a __________
A. Story told by the elders
B. Story of what happened in the past
C. Story of what happened today
D. Record of important events that happened in the past

2. Why do we study History?
A. To have stories to tell
B. To present article for publication
C. To become journalists
D. To avoid repeating the mistakes of the past

3. The powerful secret society of the Tiv is called __________
A. Oyomesi        B. Mba Tsav
C. Shagba          D. Ipaje

4. Who is regarded as the father of history?
A. Herodotus
B. Aristotle
C. Socrate
D. Albert Einsten

5. Objects, architectural construction and tools used in a particular age in history could be referred to as __________
A. Myths
B. artifacts
C. Legends
D. oral tradition

6. Autobiography is the story of __________ lives
A. People’s lives at a particular time
B. One’s own life
C. life in a community
D. How one got rich

7. Which of the following is a secondary source of history?
A. Oral Tradition
B. Textbook
C. Archives
D. legend

8. The Northern and Southern protectorates of Nigeria were amalgamated in 1914 by __________
A. Sir Bourdillion
B. Sir Arthur Richards
C. Sir John Macpherson
D. Sir Fredrick Lugard

9. The famous Arochukwu oracle is called __________
A. Ochoje               B. Ibenda
C. Ibinukpabi         D. Amadioha

10. Trans Saharan Trade involved people from __________
A. North Africa across sahara desert to Western sudan
B. South Africa across the ocean to West Africa
C. North Africa through the ocean to Lagos
D. Timbuctu through the desert to Gao

Answers to Question Number 1 – 10

1. D     2. D     3. B     4. A     5. B     6. B     7. B     8. D     9. C     10. A

Junior WAEC 2026 Questions and Answers History [Numbers 11 – 20]

11. The articles of trade during the era of legitimate trade were __________
A. Slaves and palm oil
B. Palm produce, pepper and salt
C. Books and stationery
D. Vehicles and spare parts

12. The ruler that was driven out of Lagos by the British was __________
A. Oba Akintoye
B. Oba Dosumu
C. Oba Kosoko
D. Oba Adele

13. The political party that controlled the Federal Government during the second Republic in Nigeria was the __________
A. Great Nigeria peoples party
B. Nigeria peoples party
C. Unity party of Nigeria
D. National Party of Nigeria

14. A significant effect of the Christian missionary activity in Nigeria was the __________
A. Introduction of formal education
B. Training of nationalists
C. Introduction of new crops
D. Abolition of the slave trade

15. Which of the following had no centralized administration in pre-colonial Nigeria?
A. Hausa states
B. Oyo empire
C. Benin empire
D. Igbo

16. In the pre-colonial era, the Hausa states believed that __________ was their ancestor
A. Bayyajida             B. Oduduwa
C. Olodumare          D. Iginna

17. Which of the following is a feature of a centralized state?
A. Ruled by eldest male in the family
B. Absence of empire
C. Presence of a recognized king
D. Absence of law courts

18. Which one of these contributed to the fall of Mali empire?
A. Invasion by the Tuareg nomads
B. The judiciary system was not well organized
C. The military were not fortified
D. The king was very autocratic

19. One of the factors that led to the rise of Ghana empire was __________
A. The attack by the almorovides
B. Kidnapping of princes from other empires
C. Geographical location
D. Many wars they lost

20. Trans-Saharan trade means the trading activities that took place across the __________
A. Atlantic ocean
B. Sahara desert
C. Indian ocean
D. Arabian ocean

Answers to Question Number 11 – 20

11. B     12. C     13. D     14. A     15. D     16. A     17. C     18. A      19. C      20. B

Junior WAEC 2026 Questions and Answers History [Numbers 21 – 30]

21. In the Yoruba precolonial political administration, the village head was known as __________
A. Hakimi         B. Baale
C. Onoja          D. Igala mela

22. Those states or societies ruled by kings are called __________
A. Decentralized states
B. centralized states
C. Acephalous states
D. morbid states

23. The first Nok Terracotta was discovered in the year __________
A. 1828          B. 1918
C. 1920          D. 1928

24. The major occupation of the pre-colonial Ijaw people was __________
A. Fishing          B. trading
C. Farming        D. hunting

25. Another name for Non-centralised state is __________
A. Decentralized state
B. Nationalism state
C. Nucleated state
D. scattered state

26. Where was indirect rule practiced before it was introduced to Africa?
A. India              B. Malaysia
C. Pakistan         D. Indonesia

27. The two commodities from North Africa that served as the articles of trade during trans-Sahara trade were __________ and __________
A. Corn and millet
B. bitter kola and coconuts
C. Salt and copper
D. Iron ore and lead

28. The European archaeologist that carried out the excavation in Igbo Ukwu was __________
A. Bennard fagg
B. Basden Hill
C. Thurstan Shaw
D. Henry Townsend

29. The Nupe kingdom was founded by a hero called __________
A. Ibrahim         B. Galadima
C. Tsoede          D. Turaki

30. The hereditary king of Ijaw (izon) was known as the __________
A. Olu            B. Amanyanabo
C. Etsu           D. Oba

Answers to Question Number 21 – 30

21. B     22. B     23. B     24. A     25. A     26. A     27. C     28. C     29. C     30. B

Junior WAEC 2026 Questions and Answers History [Numbers 31 – 40]

31. Which of the following is NOT a historical site in Nigeria?
A. Ogbunike cave
B. Ancient Kanowalls
C. Umuahia war museum
D. Mount Kilimanjaro

32. In a centralized state, __________
A. Power is shared to everybody
B. Only the males had the power
C. Both males and females had the power
D. Power was concentrated at the top

33. The first place in Nigeria where objects of cultural artifacts were excavated is __________
A. Ogbomosho
B. Nok
C. Ijebu Ijesha
D. Ifewara

34. The oldest town of Yoruba land is __________
A. Ifewara            B. Ife
C. Abeokuta        D. Okitipupa

35. Nok people were found in the present day __________
A. Taraba state
B. Plateau state
C. Rivers state
D. Enugu state

36. The precolonial Igbo society was __________
A. automatic          B. democratic
C. dictatorial          D. flexible

37. One source of History that is passed by the words of mouth from generation to generation is known as __________
A. written records
B. oral tradition
C. archaeological remains
D. text books

38. According to the royal system of the Hausa state, the heir apparent to the throne was __________
A. Sarkin Ruwa
B. Galadima
C. Sarkin Dogari
D. Sarkin powa

39. The king that constructed the great Benin wall in 15th century was __________
A. Oba Ewuare
B. Oba Ovanremwen
C. Oba Oguala
D. Oba Idibia

40. Mungo Park died in 1806 at __________
A. London hospital
B. New Bussa
C. American hospital
D. His home

Answers to Question Number 31 – 40

31. D     32. D      33. B     34. B     35. B     36. B      37. B      38. B     39. A      40. B

Junior WAEC 2026 Questions and Answers History [Numbers 41 – 50]

41. Which one of the following is NOT a characteristic of history?
A. Factual
B. Fictional
C. Accurate date
D. Systematic dating

42. The trade after the abolition of slave trade was known as __________
A. Legitimate trade
B. Atlantic trade
C. Trans-Saharan trade
D. trade route

43. A place where collections of artifacts that have cultural and historical importance are kept and preserved is called __________
A. Museum          B. warehouse
C. Library             D. school

44. The display of works of arts either for education or cultural purpose is called __________
A. Excursion          B. library
C. Exhibition         D. festival

45. Which one of the following is NOT a site excavated in Igbo-ukwu?
A. Isaiah site
B. John site
C. Jonah site
D. Richard site

46. The kings of Kanem-Bornu empire are called __________
A. Sarki          B. Attah
C. Estu           D. Mai

47. The Ebira is an ethnic group located in the present day __________ state
A. Kogi           B. Benue
C. Niger         D. Taraba

48. The pre-colonial administration in Igbo land was focused inside __________
A. Villages         B. towns
C. Cities             D. huts

49. Nigeria became a republic in the year __________
A. 1906           B. 1960
C. 1963           D. 1990

50. Ghana empire was founded by a group of wandering tribes called the __________
A. Soninke           B. Maghreb
C. Sao                  D. Malinke

Answers to Question Number 41 – 50

41. B       42. A       43. A       44. C      45. D      46. D      47. A       48. A         49. C        50. A

Junior WAEC 2026 Questions and Answers History [Numbers 51 – 60]

51. Trans-Sahara trade started around __________
A. 1000 B.C           B. 600 B.C
C. 200 AD             D. 5000 AD

52. Which one of the following is NOT an article of trans-Saharan trade?
A. Ivory
B. Kolanut
C. Hides and skin
D. Silver

53. The first Europeans to visit Nigeria were the __________
A. British              B. Germans
C. Russians           D. Portuguese

54. Nigeria got her Independence in the year __________
A. 1960            B. 1860
C. 1760            D. 1660

55. Slave trade was abolished in Britain in the year __________
A. 1904            B. 1900
C. 1826            D. 1807

56. The first colonial Governor General of Nigeria was __________
A. Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe
B. Sir Lord Lugard
C. Chief Obafemi Awolowo
D. Sir Anthony Enahoro

57. Indirect rule was a system of government introduced by the __________
A. British               B. French
C. German            D. Spanish

58. Why did indirect rule fail in the Eastern part of Nigeria?
A. The people rejected British culture
B. There was no existing centralized traditional authority.
C. The British did not appoint local chiefs
D. The British did not use military force

59. In which year was the Berlin conference held?
A. 1848 – 1852
B. 1884 – 1885
C. 1900 – 1910
D. 1702 – 1804

60. Who was the German chancellor that organized the Berlin conference?
A. Otto von Bismarck
B. Kaiser Wilhelm II
C. Adolf Hitler
D. Albert Einstein

Answers to Question Number 51 – 60

51. C     52. D     53. D      54. A      55. D     56. B     57. A     58. B      59. B       60. A

SECTION B— ESSAY

ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS

QUESTION 1
a. What is History?
b. State three (3) sources of History.
c. State one (1) difference between History and storytelling

QUESTION 2
a. Define legitimate trade?
b. State two (2) reasons why it was called legitimate trade
c. Outline two (2) positive effects of legitimate trade

QUESTION 3
a. Define indirect rule system of government
b. State four (4) reasons why the indirect rule system was adopted

QUESTION 4
a. What is centralized states?
b. Write four (4) features of centralized states

Answers to Section B (Essay) Questions of Junior WAEC 2026 History

QUESTION 1

a. What is History?
History is the study and record of important past events involving human beings. It deals with what happened in the past and is based on facts, evidence, and accurate dates.

b. State three (3) sources of History.

• Oral tradition
• Written records
• Archaeological remains

c. State one (1) difference between History and storytelling.
History is based on facts and evidence, while storytelling may be fictional and not supported by evidence.

QUESTION 2

a. Define legitimate trade.
Legitimate trade refers to the system of trade that replaced the slave trade, in which lawful goods such as palm oil, cocoa, cotton, and groundnuts were exchanged.

b. State two (2) reasons why it was called legitimate trade.

• It involved legal goods instead of human beings.
• It was approved and recognized by European governments.

c. Outline two (2) positive effects of legitimate trade.

• It encouraged the cultivation of cash crops.
• It led to economic growth and development.

QUESTION 3

a. Define indirect rule system of government.
Indirect rule is a system of government in which the colonial rulers governed the people through their traditional rulers and existing institutions.

b. State four (4) reasons why the indirect rule system was adopted.

• There were few European officials.
• It was cheap and economical to operate.
• It helped to maintain peace and order.
• It made administration easier for the colonial masters.

QUESTION 4

a. What is centralized states?
Centralized states are political systems where power and authority are concentrated in the hands of a central ruler, such as a king or emperor.

b. Write four (4) features of centralized states.

• Presence of a recognized king or ruler.
• Centralized authority at the top.
• Existence of organized government officials.
• Presence of laws and law courts.

End.