Parents of dental students at the University of Uyo have staged a protest over the alleged lack of accreditation for the university’s Dentistry programme, warning that more than 125 students risk being academically stranded.
Due to the University of Uyo’s Dentistry program’s lack of accreditation, parents of dental students at UNIUYO have protested, saying that more than 125 students could become academically trapped.
“We reject unnecessary prolongation of studies for our children,” “Our children are not lab rats for experiments,” “Save the future of Uniuyo dental students,” “Do not normalize extra year for professional students,” and other statements were written on placards that the parents, numbering over twenty, were seen matching in Uyo metropolis, according to our correspondent.
They bemoaned the program’s five years of operation without preclinical or clinical certification from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, MDCN, pointing out that the initial cohort accepted in the 2020/2021 session is now in Year 5 and less than a year from expected graduation.
The Chairman of the Forum of Parents of Dental Students at UNIUYO, Mr. Sunday Elijah, told reporters on Friday in Uyo that the faculty currently has 45 students in Year 1, 43 in Year 2, 17 in Year 3, 20 in Year 4, and 22 in Year 5. He also mentioned that the university admits 40 or more students annually at 100 and 200 levels despite not having an authorized quota for dentistry.
“The University of Uyo’s dentistry program started several years ago, when the first group of pupils were admitted to the who are presently in Year 5 (500 Level) in the 2020–2021 school year.
Since the program’s beginning, subsequent student cohorts have been accepted, and the program has since grown throughout several layers.
May 22 “These pupils have dedicated years of focused study time with the goal of becoming certified dental surgeons who will make a significant contribution to our country’s healthcare system.
“The University properly extended an admissions offer to them, and they accepted it.” tuition, medical levies, and regular school expenses for every academic current session. Given this, it is only reasonable and fair that they should not be left behind in their academic or professional endeavors because events outside of their control.
“We would like to declare that there is presently no accreditation for the both in the preclinical and clinical phases of the Faculty of Dentistry,” he said.
Even though the pioneer batch is in Year 5, the Chairman, represented by Mr. Vincent Udoh, said that as of April 2026, the institution had not asked the MDCN for an advisory or accreditation visit.
Inadequate dental chairs and phantom heads, a lack of consultants and lecturers in all five departments, an unequipped dentistry clinic, a lack of prosthodontics or oral biology labs, and a lack of a dedicated faculty building were among the facilities and personnel that Elijah cited as missing.
He urged the National Assembly, the Federal Government, the MDCN, and other relevant parties to authorize the immediate integration of dental students in Years 5, 4, and 3 into the MBBS program and direct Uniuyo to produce a plan with timelines to address deficiencies and schedule MDCN accreditation visits.
“The future of our healthcare system is directly related to the future of these students.” Elijah stated, “Aiming to become a doctor or dental surgeon shouldn’t lead to preventable setbacks due to systemic lapses.”
Professor Samuel Gbadebo Odewumi, acting vice chancellor at the University of Uyo, responded by saying, “If there is anything I have been concerned about since I came in here is this issue of accreditation.”
“As an institution, we have done everything that was necessary, including awarding contracts and much more,” he continued.
Although it won’t be finished in a day or two, I want to reassure you that everything is moving forward. The only thing left to do is ask the council to accredit the program.