Dentistry programme still accredited, issue is excess intake – UNICAL VC, Prof. Florence Obi

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar (UNICAL), Prof. Florence Obi, has addressed the controversy surrounding the alleged over-admission of students into the university’s Dentistry programme, describing the issue as widely misrepresented on social media.

Speaking during a press briefing on Monday, July 14, 2025, Prof. Obi explained that contrary to the misinformation being circulated, the university’s Dentistry programme still holds valid accreditation, which remains in place until 2027.

She clarified that the challenge facing the programme has nothing to do with accreditation but stems from an old issue of exceeding the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria’s (MDCN) admission quota of 10 students per year.

According to her, “The Dentistry programme was granted pre-clinical accreditation in November 2019 and full clinical accreditation in December 2022. The next accreditation visit is scheduled for 2027.”

“What we are dealing with now is the backlog of excess admissions accumulated over time, not accreditation problems as people have been made to believe.”

Prof. Obi disclosed that after the programme’s clinical accreditation in December 2022, the MDCN advised the university to suspend further admissions so it could work out the proper modalities for managing the excess students.

She confirmed that the university has since complied, with students currently in 400, 500 and 600 levels.

To address the matter, the university management, led by Prof. Obi, together with the Provost of the College of Medical Sciences and the Dean of Dentistry, held a meeting with the MDCN in Abuja.

It was agreed that some students would be transferred to other accredited institutions, while 31 graduates awaiting induction and another 28 students scheduled for resit examinations would have to wait for a re-verification of the university’s facilities and staffing.

Prof. Obi also dismissed the rumour that students were told to transfer themselves or advised to “go and learn a trade,” calling it outright falsehood spread online.

She urged the public to ignore such misinformation, assuring that the university remains committed to resolving the situation in line with regulatory standards.

She appealed for calm and reassured students, parents, and stakeholders that the university is handling the situation responsibly and professionally.