Senator Asuquo Intervenes as 392 UNICAL Dental Students Face Uncertain Future Over MDCN Quota Violation
By Ebi COLLINS
In a decisive move to avert an academic and professional crisis, Senator Asuquo Ekpeyong on Monday convened an emergency high-level meeting at the National Assembly to address the plight of 392 dental students of the University of Calabar (UNICAL), who face potential disqualification following breaches of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN)’s approved admission quota.
The meeting, held at the National Assembly Complex, brought together key stakeholders, including Senator Ekpeyong; Professor Fatima Kyari, Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the MDCN; members of the Council’s management team; Senator Ipalibo Harry-Banigo, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health; and Mr. Emmanuel Obo, President of the Student Union Government (SUG), University of Calabar.
In her briefing, Prof. Kyari disclosed that the University had repeatedly flouted the MDCN’s accreditation quota of 10 students per set, resulting in gross over-enrolment across academic levels. She warned that the breach poses significant threats to educational standards and the professional futures of the affected students. “This level of over-admission not only violates regulatory provisions but severely undermines the quality of training and risks producing inadequately prepared practitioners,” she stated.
Responding to petitions submitted by parents, civil society groups, and education stakeholders, Senator Ekpeyong described the situation as an “educational emergency” requiring swift, constructive intervention. “We are not here to assign blame; we are here to find immediate, realistic solutions to safeguard the futures of 392 young Nigerians. There must be a way forward, and we must act fast,” Senator Ekpeyong emphasized.
As part of his proposed interventions, Senator Ekpeyong called for a one-time, MDCN-supervised waiver for final-year students who have met academic requirements and passed their professional qualifying examinations, to enable their induction. He further advocated for targeted investment in dental education infrastructure through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), which would help sustainably expand UNICAL’s training capacity. A possible reassignment of some affected students to other medical programs such as Medicine and Surgery was also suggested, particularly in departments where institutional capacity permits.
Additionally, Senator Ekpeyong recommended that the Senate Committee on Tertiary Education initiate an investigative hearing and summon the University’s Vice Chancellor and Provost of the College of Medical Sciences for a comprehensive briefing. He emphasized the need for the MDCN to strengthen regulatory enforcement to ensure full compliance with future admission quotas and prevent a recurrence of the crisis.
Senator Harry-Banigo echoed support for the students, stressing that they must not be left stranded due to administrative lapses. “These young people must not suffer the consequences of institutional mismanagement. The credibility of our health sector and our commitment to youth development is at stake,” she remarked. She directed the MDCN to return with concrete and actionable recommendations ahead of an anticipated meeting between the Senate Committee on Tertiary Education and UNICAL authorities.
The meeting concluded with a shared resolve that the Senate would maintain active oversight on the issue until a fair and sustainable resolution is reached. Stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to balancing regulatory integrity with the educational rights and future careers of the affected students.
