Students from the Faculty of Dental Science at the University of Jos staged a protest on Monday, expressing frustration over the delayed accreditation of their programs by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria. The main grievance cited by the students was the shortage of lecturers in the faculty.
Brandishing placards with messages such as “Unijos is careless over students’ future,” “We deserve better, merge Unijos Dental students,” and “Depression wan kill us, save us please,” the students marched to the university’s permanent site at the Naraguta campus. Another placard highlighted the students’ dissatisfaction with the lack of progress despite paying school fees regularly.
The protesters demanded that the university merge dental students with medical students (MBBS) to prevent further disruptions to their studies caused by the delayed accreditation. A student from the protesting faculty, speaking anonymously, expressed frustration over repeated courses and non-standard teaching methods.
According to the student, the shortage of faculty members has prevented the accreditation of their programs despite assurances from university management. The protesters highlighted the plight of dental students who have been in the university for up to nine years without completing their studies.
In response, Vice Chancellor Ishayo Tanko issued an apology to the students and acknowledged the university’s efforts to address the issue. Tanko mentioned that the management was actively seeking approval for additional lecturers but had not yet received it. He assured the students of a forthcoming meeting involving student leaders, the first set of dental college students, and the college’s management to find a resolution.
Tanko emphasized that protests would not resolve the issue and reiterated the university’s commitment to solving the challenges faced by dental students. He noted that meetings had been held with students and their parents to identify and address the underlying issues.
