A major education scandal has erupted at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), leaving over 300 dentistry students in a state of confusion and despair. After years of study, the students have been told they may not be able to graduate or continue their program because the university admitted far more students than its official quota allowed. The situation, which has been described as a “monumental injustice,” has sparked outrage across the country and led to widespread calls for reform in Nigeria’s higher education system.
A Dream Turned into a Nightmare
For hundreds of students at UNICAL’s Faculty of Dentistry, the dream of becoming a dentist has turned into a nightmare. Many of them, including some in their final year, were recently informed by the university’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Florence Banku Obi, that their academic futures are uncertain. The root of the problem is that the university repeatedly ignored the admission quota set by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), the body that regulates medical and dental training in the country.
The MDCN had approved a quota for the university to admit a small number of students, reportedly just 10, for its dentistry program to ensure high-quality training. However, the university admitted hundreds of students, with some classes having as many as 90 to 127 students. This over-admission went on for years, creating a crisis that has now exploded into a national scandal. After discovering the massive breach, the MDCN revoked the program’s accreditation, leaving the students in limbo.
The Human Cost of the Scandal
The impact of this scandal on the students has been devastating. Many have spent between five to eight years in the program, paying millions of naira in tuition, accommodation, and other fees. Now, they face the possibility of having to start all over again at other institutions or abandon their dreams entirely.
The university’s response has only added to the students’ pain. In a meeting with students and parents, the Provost of the College of Medical Sciences, Prof. Ngim I. Ngim, reportedly made the shocking statement, “We admitted more than our quota, hoping you people fail and it would balance out”. Some final-year students were even told to “go and learn a trade,” a comment that has been widely condemned as insensitive and cruel.
The university has also reportedly banned any form of protest on campus, further silencing the students and preventing them from expressing their frustration and fear.
Here is a quote from a distraught parent, highlighting the emotional and financial toll of the scandal:
“We paid every fee they asked, only for our children to be sent home like criminals. Who will compensate us for the wasted years and the emotional trauma?”
Widespread Condemnation and Calls for Action
The news of the UNICAL scandal has been met with widespread outrage. The Nigerian Association of Dental Students (NADS) has strongly condemned the university’s actions, calling them “inhuman” and “totally unacceptable”. The association has demanded that the university take responsibility for its “administrative failure” and find a clear and transparent solution for the affected students.
Parents, education advocates, and the general public have taken to social media to express their anger, using hashtags like #SaveDentalStudentsofUNICAL to draw attention to the students’ plight. There are growing calls for the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC), and other relevant bodies to intervene and hold the university accountable. Many are arguing that students should not be punished for the greed and mismanagement of the university administration.
A Deeper Problem in Nigerian Education
This scandal at UNICAL is seen by many as a symptom of a much larger problem in Nigeria’s higher education system. It highlights issues of corruption, lack of accountability, and a focus on generating revenue over providing quality education. The fact that a university could get away with such a blatant disregard for regulatory standards for seven years has raised serious questions about the oversight of educational institutions in the country.
The incident has reignited calls for urgent and comprehensive national education reforms. People are demanding stricter enforcement of regulations, greater transparency in university admissions and finances, and stronger protections for students. The UNICAL scandal has become a powerful example of why change is desperately needed to prevent such a crisis from happening again.
The future of the 300 stranded dentistry students at the University of Calabar remains uncertain. Their lives have been put on hold by a scandal they had no part in creating. As the nation watches, the pressure is mounting on the university and the government to find a just and compassionate solution, and to ensure that such a devastating failure of leadership and responsibility is never repeated.
Stay woke. Stay tuned. Stay with AKEWE NEWS.
