Hundreds of University of Jos, UNIJOS dentistry students have taken to the streets to protest their courses’ lack of certification, which has resulted in some remaining in school for more than ten years without graduating.
On Wednesday, the students barricaded the university gate at its Permanent site, chanting solidarity songs and brandishing placards with various slogans, including “Save us from unending depression,” “Our future is on hold,” “Accredit us now,” and “We are tired of UNIJOS,” among others.
Mr Johnson Titus, President of the Jos University Dental Students Association, spoke on the students’ behalf and urged that management recognize their problem and find a remedy.
“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 union president, 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 program.
“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 in.”
Another student, Nwike Pius, voiced anger with the university’s handling of the situation, saying, “The school has not been sincere with us because we get a different story from them, and then 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, when contacted about the issue, the Dean of Student Affairs, Prof. Chris Piwuna, was unavailable, but a source close to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Tanko Ishaya, who spoke anonymously because he was not authorized to do so, stated that the university administration was doing everything possible to address the issue.
He added that the institution has started bidding for N800 million in capital projects, including the procurement of equipment for the dental program, and that the provost and senior faculty members met with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria to obtain 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.
“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 program. What else do they want?” the source said.
