By Onwa Ekor
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof Florence Obi, says contrary to misinformation and distortion of facts spreading on social media, the Dentistry programme of the institution has not lost its accreditation.
Briefing journalists on the issue in her office, Monday, Obi clarified that neither have the students been asked by the University to go and seek admission on their own in other institutions.
“Students were not asked to go seeking transfer to other institutions on their own, nor were they told by anyone to go and learn a trade as falsely peddled on social media.
“We rather emphasized our determination to make sure they graduate and are licensed as dental surgeons, all that was asked for was time to enable management engage with other institutions, update Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), and get back to them,” the VC remarked.
She informed that the Dentistry programme of the University started in 2013/2014 academic session and in November 2019, the Medical and Dental Council granted the University pre-clinical Dentistry accreditation while the clinical Dentistry accreditation held in December 2022 where the University was given full accreditation.
According to Obi, “our current problem has nothing to do with accreditation as the next due accreditation is in 2027,” admitting that, “unfortunately, from records available from inception, we have not adhered to the given quota of 10 in any admission year meaning that the problems predate my administration.”
Giving a fuller understanding of the problem, Obi said: “Dentistry had full MSCN and NUC accreditation in December 2022 and November respectively with the next accreditation exercise to come in 2027 and 2029, the expectation is that the University should upgrade its facilities and resources and invite the regulatory professional body for revalidation/ re-verification with a view to increasing the Quota.
“Despite being stymied by paucity of funds, the University has not relented in its quest to upgrade the Dentistry facilities as needed.
“Currently, we have procured four additional dental chairs, thus bringing the total number in our possession to 36, while 16 more, along with other facilities are expected through the special Presidential Intervention on Medical Colleges.
“We have recently been granted waiver to employ academic staff, we are waiting for the budget office, Abuja for the clearance to do so,” the VC disclosed.
According to her, once this is done, “we hope to utilize the opportunity to recruit more lecturers in Dentistry and shore up the manpower base,” adding that “as soon as the dental chairs and academic staff have been sorted out, then the MDCN will be invited.”
The VC used the opportunity to call for a quick intervention by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, in facilitating clearance for employment from the Budget office of the Federation, as well as procurement of the 16 dental chairs to quicken visit by the Council.
