UNICAL Alumni Send 'SOS' To 'Malabites', 'Malabresses', Embark on Advocacy Visits To Save Dentistry Students

By Bassey BASSEY 

The University of Calabar Alumni Association has sent out a Save-Our-Soul message to all Malabites and Malabresses soliciting for support to salvage the students in the dentistry department who are currently facing some challenges.

In a statement on behalf of the National Executive Committee signed by National President and General Secretary, Paul Eshiemomoh and Dr. Emmanuel Akpan John respectively, the Association acknowledge that their great Alma mater, the University of Calabar, has been on the dark side of the news for the past days, resulting from the over admission of students in the Dentistry Department.

According to them, the over admission has led to the consequent denial of induction of the graduates by the Medical and Dental Council of

Nigeria (MDCN).

The statement reads in part: 

"The Vice Chancellor Prof. Florence B. Obi in a news conference had highlighted the two problems of the

faculty to include lack of adequate teaching facilities/ infrastructure and inadequate academic personnel to man the relevant subjects/ departments.

"She had further stated that the Federal Government has through the ministry of Education approved funds

for selected Universities medical schools of which UNICAL is a beneficiary, awaiting release from the

Ministry of Education.

"That the Federal Government has also granted waivers for the University to recruit more staff for the school, which is also awaiting approval from the Director General of the Budget Office. 

"It is the desire of the

Alumni to dwell on finding a solution to the problems by using all resources and contacts available to us as promised to assist the University resolve the problems.

"The Alumni intends to send a Save Our School (SOS) letter and pay advocacy visits to the Hon. Minister of Education and the Director of Budget office in the Presidency to persuade them to urgently release the said funds and give approval respectively, to save our students from the current distress they are experiencing.

"We therefore call on all MALABITES and MALABRESSES (both home and in Diaspora) with direct

contact with these offices/ Officials to facilitate our reaching out to them expeditiously or even put in a

word for the school. This is the time to redeem our school."