By Muhammad Mamman
Labour Party presidential candidate in Nigeria’s 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has made an emotional appeal for urgent action amid the crisis affecting dental students at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), insisting that no student should pay the price for institutional or leadership failures.
In a heartfelt statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, Obi expressed deep concern over the reported complications surrounding the graduation and induction quotas for dental students at the institution.
“No student should suffer due to what I consider a failure of leadership,” Obi wrote. “We must prioritise the education of our youth, particularly in vital disciplines like science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Education in these fields is far too critical to be derailed by bureaucratic bottlenecks or administrative lapses.”
Obi acknowledged the recent assurances given by UNICAL Vice-Chancellor, Professor Florence Obi, who pledged that steps would be taken to address the issue. He expressed appreciation for her leadership and voiced hope that the situation would be resolved promptly and justly.
“While the details are still emerging, I understand that the Vice-Chancellor has assured the public of concrete action to end the crisis. I commend her for this commitment and look forward to a favourable outcome,” he stated.
Drawing from his own experience as Governor of Anambra State, Obi recounted a similar challenge he faced with medical accreditation at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University. Students on the verge of graduating were suddenly told their degrees would be invalid due to accreditation issues.
“Young students who had already spent three to four years studying medicine were told they could only graduate as biologists or in unrelated science fields,” Obi recalled. “I had only been in office for a year, but I refused to allow those innocent students to become casualties of a broken system.”
He recounted how he promised the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) that a fully functional teaching hospital would be constructed within two years — a promise met with scepticism.
“They told me it couldn’t be done in under two years. But I believed then, as I do now, that leadership must be about solutions — especially when the futures of young people are on the line. In less than 18 months, we delivered what is now the Odumegwu-Ojukwu Teaching Hospital in Awka. That decision saved the dreams of dozens of future doctors — and still does today,” he said.
Calling for swift and decisive intervention from the Federal Government, Obi urged both financial and institutional support for the University of Calabar to ensure that no student is punished for circumstances beyond their control.
“The Vice-Chancellor and her team must be fully empowered to resolve this issue without delay. No student deserves to have their future jeopardised by problems they did not create,” he added.
Obi also issued a stern warning against the continued neglect of crucial sectors such as education and healthcare, describing such disregard as a betrayal of national priorities.
“At a time like this, we cannot afford to keep neglecting education and healthcare, or squandering national resources on ventures that do not uplift lives. Our children must not continue to lose their futures in a country that owes them hope and opportunity,” he said.
Meanwhile, Professor Florence Obi appeared on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday, where she appealed for calm and assured that all efforts were being made to resolve the ongoing crisis.
“I want to appeal to the students and parents to remain calm. On my honour, we will do everything possible, in collaboration with the MDCN, to resolve this issue. I take responsibility — even for problems I inherited,” she stated.
She disclosed that the root of the crisis lies in the over-admission of students — 60 admitted in place of the MDCN’s approved quota of 10 — and assured that those responsible for the breach would be held accountable. The Vice-Chancellor also noted plans to meet with the Minister of Education in the coming weeks, expressing hope that a resolution would be reached within two months.
