The Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Obi, has vowed to resolve the ongoing crisis in the institution’s Department of Dentistry, where there have been reports of over-admission for several years.
She disclosed this on Tuesday in Calabar, during a press briefing, stressing that she will resolve the crisis before leaving office.
Obi explained that the problem predates her administration and pledged to intensify efforts to rectify the crisis. She added that the crisis resulted from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria’s refusal to induct 2016 Dentistry students of the institution.
She also debunked claims circulating on social media that the institution’s Dentistry programme has lost its accreditation, describing the reports as “misinformation and distortion of facts,” clarifying that the programme remains fully accredited and no students have been directed to transfer to other universities.
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“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.
