When 167 medical graduates of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, took to the streets in protest recently, their pain was clear. After spending ten long years studying medicine, they were still waiting to be inducted by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) — six months after graduation.
For these young doctors, the dream of saving lives has become a source of frustration. “We graduated in August 2024, but several months later, we are still at home,” said Precious Omohegbele, one of the affected graduates. “We have spent ten years in medical school. By now, we should be halfway into our housemanship.”
Their cry is a reflection of a deeper problem — the broken structure of medical education in Nigeria. From accreditation issues to frequent strikes and underfunding, the system has stretched what should be a six-year course into a decade-long journey for many. The reason for the crisis is the issue of accreditation.
Without full accreditation from the MDCN, graduates cannot be inducted or begin housemanship. Many universities, including AAU and the University of Calabar (UniCal), have suffered setbacks because their medical or dental programmes exceeded the approved student quotas.
In UniCal, for instance, over 60 Dentistry students from the 2016 set are yet to be inducted. The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Florence Obi, admitted that the university had admitted more students than its MDCN quota allowed.
“We went beyond our quota due to high demand,” she said. “The council insisted we must clear the backlog before further inductions.”
The result? Hundreds of trained graduates are left stranded — unable to practise or proceed with their careers. Experts say this is not just a university problem but a national failure.
A senior health education analyst, Dr Emmanuel Odu, told journalists that underfunding and poor planning lie at the root of the problem. “Most medical schools lack the facilities and staff required for their student numbers. The government must invest more and enforce compliance,” he said.
In contrast, many African countries, such as Ghana and South Africa, have shorter, more structured medical training programs with predictable timelines and fewer accreditation crises. In Nigeria, however, constant strikes by lecturers and medical associations make delays the norm rather than the exception.
Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has promised to intervene in the AAU case. However, for students like Omohegbele, time is already slipping away. “We are not getting any younger,” she said. “After ten years of medical school, all we want is a chance to serve.”
Until Nigeria fixes the cracks in its medical education system, the journey from lecture halls to hospital wards will remain painfully long.
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