By Asuquo Cletus
Over 300 dental students of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) have been thrown into uncertainty following the loss of accreditation of the institution’s Faculty of Dentistry.
The crisis, which has its roots in the university’s consistent breach of the quota approved by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), reached a boiling point last week when affected students some of whom have spent over seven years in training were reportedly advised by university officials to “go and learn a trade.”
The Nigerian Association of Dental Students (NADS), in a statement on Monday described the situation as “an appalling act of administrative negligence,” accusing the university of compromising student futures through persistent over-admission.
The MDCN currently permits only 10 dental students per session, but UNICAL is alleged to have admitted as many as 90 students in certain years.
“This is an inhumane response to a crisis entirely caused by institutional recklessness,” said Victory Ochuwa Omuera, NADS President.
“Students who have spent nearly a decade pursuing a professional career in dentistry are now being told to abandon their education. We strongly condemn this and demand urgent steps to restore their academic standing.”
NADS further called on the University of Calabar to immediately suspend all directives instructing students to transfer or withdraw, and to engage in dialogue with MDCN and relevant authorities to publish a clear roadmap for resolving the accreditation issue.
The association also urged the Federal Ministry of Health, the Federal Ministry of Education, the Nigerian Dental Association (NDA), and the MDCN to intervene without delay, emphasizing that the careers and emotional wellbeing of hundreds of young Nigerians are at stake.
Several students, speaking under anonymity for fear of victimization, expressed deep distress and disillusionment over the situation.
“I left everything behind to pursue dentistry. Now, after seven years, they want me to start all over or change careers? This is not just unfair it’s cruel,” a final-year student lamented.
The accreditation withdrawal has reportedly disrupted academic progression, with many students unable to register for clinical postings, sit for qualifying exams, or graduate.
Meanwhile, the university is yet to issue an official public statement addressing the allegations. Efforts to reach the university’s spokesperson proved abortive as at press time.
As tension continues to rise on campus, observers warn that failure to act decisively could trigger wider protests and legal challenges from affected students and parents.
“We will not relent until justice is served.“This generation of dental students must not be sacrificed on the altar of bureaucratic failure.”-Omuera assured.
