Dental students protest against 10 years without graduation

Dozens of University of Jos dental students have taken to the streets to protest the non-accreditation of their courses, which has resulted in them spending over ten years in school without graduating.

The students, on Wednesday, blocked the university gate at its Permanent site, singing solidarity songs and carrying placards with different inscriptions which read, “Save us from unending depression,” “Our future is on hold,” “Accredit us now,” and “We are tired of UNIJOS,” among others.

The President of the Jos University Dental Students Association, Mr Johnson Titus, who spoke on behalf of the students, demanded that the management address their plight and provide a solution to their predicament.

“What you see behind me is the frustration of dental students who have been in the university for the past ten years without graduating. We have been stagnating because of the non-accreditation of our programme.

“The students are calling on the university management and relevant authorities to come forth and address their issues, which include getting a date for accreditation and resolving the curriculum problems,” Titus said

The student leader who blamed the university for their plight added, “Nobody should blame us because if the university is going to do screening and admission, they don’t usually inform students that there is no accreditation for the affected programme.

“The University of Jos did not inform anyone that there is no accreditation for the dental courses, for which they admitted us. If we had known, we probably wouldn’t have applied for the course.

“And also, if the university knew that there is no accreditation, why would they put Dentistry on their website for students to apply for admission. We feel the university is still at fault for the situation we have found ourselves.”

Another student, Nwike Pius, expressed frustration over the university’s lack of sincerity in handling the matter, saying, “The school has not been sincere with us because we hear a different story from them, and when we confirm, we hear a different story from the Council.

“The students have tried to reach out to the Vice Chancellor, but their efforts have been met with silence.”

However, the Dean of Student Affairs, Prof. Chris Piwuna, was not available when contacted on the issue, but a source close to the Vice Chancellor, Prof Tanko Ishaya, who spoke anonymously because he was not authorised to speak said that the university management was doing everything possible to address the matter.

He stated that the university had opened bidding for N800m capital projects, including the purchase of equipment for the dental programme, and that the Provost and senior faculty members met with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria to get a date for accreditation

“I don’t know why the students chose this day to protest because the university management is doing something to address their issue.

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“I know their matter has lingered, but as I’m talking with you, the university has opened bidding for N800m capital projects, including the purchase of their equipment.

“The bid was opened just last week. On the issue of accreditation, just last week, the Provost and senior people in the faculty met with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria to get a date for the accreditation of their programme. What else do they want?” the source said.

The students, however, remain resolute, saying they won’t vacate the university gate until their demands are met.