By Nsan Neji
CALABAR (CONVERSEER) – Tension swept through the South South Zone B Federal House of Representatives Constitutional Review hearing in Calabar on Saturday, as hundreds of students from the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Calabar (UNICAL), staged a peaceful protest over the prolonged delay in their professional induction.
Clad in white laboratory coats and bearing placards with messages such as “Induct Our Doctors,” “Save Dentistry in UNICAL,” and “No Transfer, Increase Quota,” the students gathered at the Metropolitan Hotel—venue of the public hearing—long before the scheduled 10 a.m. session, determined to draw the attention of federal lawmakers and other stakeholders to their plight.
At the heart of the crisis is a breach of regulatory standards by the university, which admitted far more students into the Dentistry programme than the quota approved by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN). The MDCN, Nigeria’s regulatory body for medical and dental practice, has since refused to induct the affected students, leaving their academic and professional future in uncertainty.
The students, including final-year candidates awaiting induction and those still progressing through the programme, expressed deep frustration over the situation. Some fear being forced to change courses or transfer to other universities—options they have flatly rejected, citing their Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) admission letters that clearly state Dentistry.
“We just want to graduate as dentists,” one of the protesting students said, requesting anonymity. “Transferring us or changing our courses is not an option. We were admitted to study Dentistry, and that’s what we intend to complete.”
The protest comes amid recent public admissions by UNICAL’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Florence Banku Obi, who acknowledged during a press briefing that the university exceeded its MDCN-prescribed quota of 10 students per academic year. She cited limited infrastructure and a shortage of qualified personnel as key challenges confronting the faculty.
The fallout has not only affected students but also dented the institution’s reputation. In response, the UNICAL Alumni Association has launched an advocacy campaign aimed at resolving the crisis. In a joint statement signed by its National President, Paul Eshiemomoh, and General Secretary, Dr Emmanuel Akpan John, the association described the development as a reputational emergency and appealed to all alumni to support the institution.
“It is no longer news that our Alma Mater has been in the spotlight for the wrong reasons due to the over-admission problem in the Dentistry department and the subsequent refusal by the MDCN to induct affected students,” the statement read.
The association revealed that the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Education, had approved funding for selected medical schools, including UNICAL. However, the disbursement of funds and approval for recruitment of additional staff remain pending at the Ministry of Education and the Budget Office of the Federation.
To fast-track resolution, the alumni body said it would send a Save Our School (SOS) letter and undertake advocacy visits to the Minister of Education and the Director of the Budget Office. It also encouraged all former students, particularly those in government or key institutions, to lend their influence in pushing for urgent action.
“We call on all MALABITES and MALABRESSES to use their networks to support this urgent cause. The future of our students—and the credibility of our great university—is at stake,” the alumni leaders added.
Despite their frustrations, Saturday’s protest was conducted peacefully, with the students remaining hopeful that their call would not go unheard. They appealed to the Federal Government and relevant authorities to urgently intervene and prevent them from becoming casualties of administrative mismanagement.
Converseer reports that the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Florence Obi, earlier said the institution is working hard to ensure the affected students are transferred to other universities to enable them complete their education.
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As the constitutional review process continues, the fate of the UNICAL Dentistry students remains a stark reminder of deeper systemic issues affecting Nigeria’s higher education sector.
