…Varsity secures FG’s ₦4.75bn intervention
…Awaits Budget Office clearance to recruit faculty, procure dental chairs
CALABAR — In a decisive move to resolve the ongoing over-admission crisis in the Dentistry programme of the University of Calabar (UNICAL), the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Florence Banku Obi, has led a high-level delegation to the headquarters of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) in Abuja NEGROIDHAVEN has learned.
The delegation, which included the Provost of the College of Medical Sciences and the Dean of Dentistry, engaged in a strategic meeting with the Registrar and senior officials of the MDCN to discuss pathways to secure the graduation and induction of the university’s current 4th, 5th, and 6th-year dentistry students.
At the meeting, the MDCN reiterated its position that some students would need to be transferred to other universities offering Dentistry as part of an ongoing effort to regularize enrolment numbers and ensure quality assurance. The regulatory body also assured of its continued partnership with the university to facilitate the transfer process and the eventual induction of eligible graduates.
Prof. Obi explained that the visit was driven by the university’s strong commitment to its students’ academic future. “We are leaving no stone unturned. These students must graduate and be licensed. That’s our top priority,” she said.
She emphasized that contrary to rumours, the university has not lost its accreditation, and no instruction was ever issued to students to abandon the programme or seek trades.
“Our concern is how to work with MDCN to meet all requirements so that our students’ careers do not suffer. That’s why we are here,” the Vice-Chancellor stressed.
₦4.75 Billion Special Presidential Intervention Boosts Confidence
In a related development, Prof. Obi disclosed that UNICAL has been listed among beneficiaries of a ₦4.75 billion Special Presidential Intervention for medical colleges nationwide. The intervention, she said, would significantly boost infrastructural development and support the university’s effort to meet MDCN’s resource requirements.
Through this funding, the university has already procured four new dental chairs, bringing the total to 26. An additional 16 chairs, along with other essential facilities, are expected in the coming months to enhance the institution’s capacity for pre-clinical and clinical training in Dentistry.
Faculty Recruitment to Begin After Budget Office Clearance
The Vice-Chancellor also revealed that the Federal Government has granted the university a waiver to recruit new academic staff for the Dentistry programme. However, the process is currently awaiting final clearance from the Budget Office of the Federation.
Once the clearance is received, Prof. Obi assured that the university will proceed immediately with the recruitment exercise, aimed at strengthening its academic manpower base.
“We are focused on both infrastructure and human capital. With the new dental chairs and additional lecturers, we will be ready for MDCN’s reassessment and revalidation,” she noted.
UNICAL’s management has pledged continuous engagement with the MDCN and other stakeholders, including parents and students, to ensure a transparent and successful resolution of the crisis.
Background
The Dentistry programme at UNICAL was established during the 2013/2014 academic session and received full accreditation from MDCN in 2022. However, the institution admitted far above the MDCN-approved quota of 10 students annually — an issue that predates the current administration.
The MDCN has since directed the university to halt new admissions into the programme until a revalidation of facilities and staff strength is concluded.
Meanwhile, the university continues to provide updates to all stakeholders and has reiterated its unwavering commitment to ensuring that no student is left behind.
