Dental students at the University of Jos (UNIJOS) have renewed protests over the prolonged delay in completing their Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) programme, which has now stretched to 10 years instead of the standard six. The students, under the Jos University Dental Students’ Association (JUDENSA), say they have endured “prolonged emotional trauma” as the pioneer set, admitted in 2015, remains unable to graduate or sit for final professional examinations.
At the core of the crisis is the university’s inability to secure full accreditation for its dental programme from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN). The lack of accreditation has been linked to a shortage of qualified lecturers, inadequate clinical facilities and equipment, and general institutional disruptions, includin; nationwide strikes, COVID-19 lockdowns, and bouts of local insecurity affecting academic activities.
Despite a major protest in April 2024, which drew national attention and triggered intervention from Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, only pre-clinical accreditation was granted in June 2024. Students say university officials assured them the clinical phase would follow within months, but more than a year later, that has not happened.
The continued delay has sparked fresh agitation, with students holding press briefings and appealing for urgent government and stakeholder intervention. They argue their academic future and professional development are at risk, noting that no student from the pioneer class has graduated.
JUDENSA had previously suggested merging the dental programme with the university’s medical school to mitigate academic disruption, but the proposal was not accepted by the administration.
The students are called on regulatory bodies, government authorities, and well-meaning Nigerians to intervene so they can complete their studies and enter the health workforce at a time when the country faces a severe shortage of dental professionals.
