Obi to Federal Government: Do not Let UNICAL Dental Students Suffer

Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has urged the federal government to intervene in resolving a crisis affecting dental students at the University of Calabar, warning that leadership failures should not derail the futures of young Nigerians.

In a social media post on Saturday, Obi responded to reports that the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) has refused to induct over 30 students from the university’s dentistry faculty. The issue stems from the university admitting 60 students per batch despite the MDCN’s quota of just 10—a long-standing breach confirmed by the university’s Vice Chancellor.

“No student should suffer due to what I consider a failure of leadership,” Obi said. He stressed the importance of preserving education in critical STEM fields amid institutional lapses. Referencing his tenure as governor of Anambra State, Obi recalled managing a similar accreditation crisis. He recounted building a teaching hospital within 18 months to salvage a collapsing medical faculty and protect students’ careers.

Obi called on the federal government to provide financial and regulatory support to the UNICAL administration, led by Vice Chancellor Florence Obi, to ensure the affected students are not penalised for administrative errors beyond their control. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Association of Dental Students (NADS) and the University of Calabar’s Student Union Government have condemned the displacement proposal affecting over 300 dental students, calling it unjust and potentially detrimental to their academic progress.

The Vice Chancellor has appealed for calm and pledged swift resolution, confirming that the crisis stems from over-admission, not a loss of accreditation for the programme, which remains valid until at least 2027. She has vowed to hold the admissions officers and relevant officials accountable and is seeking federal support to upgrade staffing and infrastructure.

Obi’s intervention underscores the high stakes of the situation: years of investment in training are at risk due to institutional oversight. The university administration and regulatory authorities now face pressure to act swiftly before student futures are irreversibly jeopardised.