The Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar (UNICAL), Professor Florence Obi, has pledged to resolve the lingering challenges in the institution’s Department of Dentistry, assuring that no student will be abandoned.
Addressing journalists during a press briefing on Tuesday, Prof. Obi described the issues largely attributed to over-admission in past years as longstanding and inherited from previous administrations. She reaffirmed her commitment to ensuring a lasting solution before her tenure concludes.
“I will feel very bad if I leave without solving this problem, and the students are left hanging without knowing their fate. I won’t be fulfilled,” she stated.
The crisis, which sparked public concern and online outrage, centers on the refusal of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) to induct the 2016 cohort of Dentistry students. Social media reports further alleged that the programme had lost its accreditation and that students were advised to transfer to other universities.
However, the Vice Chancellor firmly dismissed these claims, describing them as “misinformation and distortion of facts.” She maintained that the Dentistry programme remains fully accredited, and no official directive has been issued instructing students to transfer.
Providing clarity on the status of the programme, Prof. Obi noted that Dentistry at UNICAL commenced in the 2013/2014 academic session. The department received pre-clinical accreditation from the MDCN in November 2019 and subsequently secured full clinical accreditation in December 2022.
She also disclosed that the university is working in partnership with the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to enhance infrastructure and strengthen the capacity of the Dentistry programme.
“All we asked for is time to engage with other institutions, update the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, and follow through on due processes,” she said.
Responding to concerns raised by some affected students, who reportedly requested transfers to the Department of Medicine and Surgery, the VC explained that such a move is not viable due to capacity constraints in the Medicine programme.
She appealed for patience and calm, assuring students and stakeholders that the university is actively addressing the matter.
The Vice Chancellor reiterated the institution’s unwavering commitment to seeing all enrolled Dentistry students graduate and become licensed dental professionals.
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