The Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Professor Florence Obi, has called for calm regarding the non-induction of the institution’s graduating dentistry students.
She made the disclosure on Tuesday during a press briefing in Calabar, assuring that the issue would be resolved before the end of her tenure.
Professor Obi noted that the crisis began before her administration but affirmed her commitment to addressing it. She explained that the challenge stemmed from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria’s refusal to induct the university’s 2016 Dentistry graduates.
She also refuted social media claims that the university’s Dentistry programme had lost its accreditation, describing the reports as misleading and inaccurate. She clarified that the programme remains fully accredited and no students have been instructed to transfer to other institutions.
“At no point did the University ask Dentistry students to seek transfers to other institutions, nor were they advised to ‘go and learn a trade’ as falsely alleged online,” the VC stated.
“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 said.
She reaffirmed the university’s commitment to ensuring all Dentistry students graduate and are duly licensed as dental surgeons.
She noted that the Dentistry programme commenced in the 2013/2014 academic session, and in November 2019, the university secured pre-clinical accreditation from the MDCN and full clinical accreditation was subsequently granted in December 2022.
The VC added that the university’s synergy and partnership with the Minister of Education and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund to upgrade its facilities.
“All we asked for is time to engage with other institutions, update the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), and follow through on due processes,” she noted.
Speaking further, Obi said that some of the affected students demanded to be transferred to the Department of Medicine and Surgery, but said it was not the solution as the department was already saturated.
Obi urged the affected students to remain calm, noting that the university was doing everything possible to resolve the issues before the end of her tenure.
