Dental students of the University of Jos have appealed to the National Assembly, the Federal Government, and the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) to intervene in what they described as a decade-long academic ordeal caused by stalled accreditation of their clinical training.
Speaking during a press conference at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat in Jos, the President of the Jos University Dental Students Association (JUDENSA), Johnson Titus Bisani, said the situation has left the students “emotionally drained, deeply traumatized, and vulnerable to suicidal tendencies” after spending ten years studying a six-year course without graduation.
Bisani explained that the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) programme, which commenced in 2015, has suffered repeated setbacks due to unresolved accreditation challenges, leaving the pioneer class unable to write their professional examinations.
“We are not here to point fingers, but to share our story in hopes of finding understanding, compassion, and real solutions. This is about justice for young Nigerians chasing their dreams in dental healthcare. We have reached our breaking point,” he said.
He recalled that following a peaceful protest in April 2024, Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang intervened, resulting in the approval of the preclinical phase of accreditation in June 2024.
However, he lamented that the clinical accreditation had yet to be secured more than a year later, contrary to the timelines earlier given to the students.
“During that period, the school management assured us that within six months we would secure the clinical accreditation and our pioneer class would be inducted by 2025. But now, in October 2025, those promises have evaporated into thin air,” he stated.
The JUDENSA President maintained that the MDCN should not be blamed for the crisis, stressing that the responsibility rests squarely with the University of Jos management.
He called on the university to demonstrate transparency and commitment in addressing the matter.
“We appeal to the MDCN for clemency and, most importantly, to find ways of holding the school accountable without subjecting us, the innocent students, to further agonizing experiences already created by the school,” he added.
The students urged the National Assembly under the leadership of Senator Godswill Akpabio, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Health, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure a lasting resolution to the crisis.
They further demanded that the university produce a clear action plan with specific timelines for accreditation, examination, and induction, as well as compensation for the pioneer and second sets who have spent nine and ten years respectively in the programme.
Bisani expressed appreciation to Governor Caleb Mutfwang for his support, and to professional bodies such as the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), JUTH Branch, for their solidarity.He appealed to political leaders, institutions, and well-meaning Nigerians to intervene and prevent the aspirations of young dental students from being destroyed
.“We are counting on you to save our souls,” he said.
