Students of the University of Jos Dental School have decried over a decade of academic stagnation caused by the institution’s failure to secure full accreditation for its Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) programme.
Addressing journalists in Jos, Johnson Bisani, President of the Jos University Dental Students’ Association (JUDENSA), stated that the six-year programme, which commenced in 2015, has now spanned ten years without producing a single graduate or professional examination.
He described the situation as mentally and emotionally draining, lamenting that the Faculty of Dentistry, the only one in North Central Nigeria, is vital to addressing the region’s poor dentist-to-patient ratio, currently 1:54,000 against the WHO’s 1:5,000 standard.
Bisani recalled that following a student protest in April 2024, the Plateau State Government’s intervention led to the award of preclinical accreditation in June. However, clinical accreditation remains pending, despite repeated assurances.
He appealed to the National Assembly, relevant ministries, and the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria to expedite the whole accreditation process and prevent further deterioration of students’ welfare and Nigeria’s dental education system.
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