Our Reporter
CALABAR, NIGERIA — The Nigerian Association of Dental Students (NADS) has strongly condemned the University of Calabar (UNICAL) over a controversial directive instructing over 300 dental students to transfer to other institutions. The students were reportedly asked to leave due to issues arising from over-admission and the subsequent loss of accreditation for the university’s Faculty of Dentistry.
The development has sparked outrage among stakeholders, with the students’ body describing the decision as “inhuman” and “totally unacceptable,” warning that it could jeopardise the future of hundreds of aspiring dental professionals.
In a statement issued on Sunday, 13 July 2025, and signed by the President of NADS, University of Benin chapter, Victory Ochuwa, the association accused UNICAL of gross negligence. The statement, referenced NAD/Exit/009 and dated 11 July, was made available to journalists in Calabar.
“The Nigerian Association of Dental Students expresses grave concern and deep disappointment over the ongoing crisis involving over 300 dental students of the University of Calabar, who have reportedly been asked to change institutions due to over-admission by the university, resulting in the loss of accreditation of the Faculty of Dentistry,” the statement read.
“Unjust and cruel”
According to NADS, many of the affected students have already spent four to six years at the institution, with some in their final year. The association said it is unconscionable to ask them to transfer or abandon their studies at such a critical stage.
“We strongly condemn this act of negligence and disregard for student welfare. We reject any suggestion that these students should bear the consequences of the institution’s administrative failures,” the statement continued.
The association noted that some final-year students had already invested between seven and eight years in their education due to delays, only to now face eviction from their academic programme. NADS described such treatment as unjust and a betrayal of trust placed in the institution by students and their families.
Call for urgent reversal and intervention
NADS has demanded an immediate suspension of the directive and called on the university authorities to prioritise student welfare in resolving the crisis.
“We urge UNICAL to withdraw this harmful directive without delay. Reversing this decision is essential to de-escalating the tension and restoring hope among the affected students.”
In addition, NADS called on national regulatory and professional bodies — including the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), the Nigerian Dental Association (NDA), and the Federal Ministries of Health and Education — to urgently intervene.
“We call on these bodies to ensure justice and compassion guide the way forward. These students deserve support, not abandonment,” the association urged.
Silence from UNICAL authorities
As at the time of filing this report, the University of Calabar has not issued any official statement addressing the students’ allegations or confirming its position on the directive.
Efforts to reach the university’s spokesperson were unsuccessful, and affected students continue to await clarity on their academic future.
The development has further highlighted systemic issues in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector, where poor planning, infrastructural limitations, and administrative lapses continue to impact students’ academic journeys.
Background: Accreditation challenges
Sources familiar with the matter indicate that UNICAL’s Faculty of Dentistry reportedly lost its accreditation following repeated warnings about overstretched facilities and a growing student population far beyond capacity.
However, critics argue that students who were lawfully admitted and have spent years in the system should not be punished for institutional shortcomings.
As the situation unfolds, public pressure is mounting for a solution that safeguards students’ futures while holding the university accountable for its alleged mismanagement