The Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) has officially written to Mr. Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra State and 2023 Labour Party Presidential Candidate, appealing for his intervention in the long-standing crisis plaguing the university’s Faculty of Dentistry. The union, inspired by Obi’s recent philanthropic intervention at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), believes his influence and commitment to educational reform can help salvage the dire situation affecting dental students in Calabar.
In a formal letter dated July 19, 2025, and signed by the leadership of the UNICAL SUG, the students described their predicament as a “critical crisis,” where years of academic work, clinical training, and hope for induction have been wasted due to inadequate infrastructure, lack of teaching staff, and government neglect. The letter, addressed to Mr. Obi through his official contact, was dispatched from the ABC Drjiakor building, Nelson Mandela Secretariat, Solidarity Point, Malabor Republic, UNICAL.
According to the letter, the Faculty of Dentistry has suffered neglect for years, but the situation has now escalated to a breaking point. Students who have spent up to seven years in the program remain unindicted and uncertain about their futures due to systemic failures. Some students have completed all academic and clinical requirements but are unable to graduate or be inducted into professional practice, largely due to quota restrictions, overpopulation, and infrastructure collapse.
Among the key challenges listed by the Students’ Union are a severe shortage of dental chairs and phantom heads, which are essential tools for clinical and pre-clinical training. The clinical building is described as “overcrowded and grossly inadequate,” making it difficult for students to receive hands-on experience. Additionally, the absence of functional radiographic equipment, including cephalographs and OPGs, has further compounded their educational woes.
The letter also highlighted a dangerous trend of withdrawal of visiting lecturers due to unpaid stipends. With only a handful of permanent academic staff left to handle hundreds of students, the quality of dental education is deteriorating. Classes are reportedly packed with up to 128 students per level, forcing many into academic stagnation. The situation, the SUG noted, is “no longer sustainable.”
In their appeal, the students made a passionate case for Peter Obi’s intervention, noting his consistent dedication to education, youth development, and institutional reform across Nigeria. The union expressed confidence that his involvement would attract the necessary attention from the federal government and relevant regulatory bodies, particularly the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).
As part of their recommendations, the SUG called for immediate financial support to procure equipment and renovate the faculty. They also urged Obi to leverage his network to attract both public and private stakeholders, including NGOs and alumni associations, to join in restoring the Faculty of Dentistry to acceptable academic standards. Additionally, they proposed the establishment of a permanent intervention framework for professional faculties in federal universities.
The letter has since gained traction on social media, with many Nigerians lauding the UNICAL students for their proactive engagement and for reaching out to a known advocate of education like Peter Obi. On X (formerly Twitter), users praised the initiative as timely and intelligent, urging other students’ unions across the country to take similar bold steps in seeking support beyond government channels.
Reacting to the letter, a social media user commented, “From Nsukka to Calabar, Peter Obi is investing where it counts: education. If this is what he does out of office, imagine what he’ll do in power. #Obi2027.” Another user remarked, “What’s the purpose of wealth that doesn’t impact lives? Peter Obi is setting a new standard for responsible leadership.”
However, not all reactions were without political undertones. Some users warned that Peter Obi’s frequent educational interventions could trigger a political backlash from the federal government. “Tinubu will soon instruct the Minister of Education to ban Peter Obi from all federal universities,” one user joked, highlighting the political tension surrounding Obi’s growing influence.
Despite the controversy, the UNICAL SUG emphasized that their motive was strictly academic and humanitarian. “This is not about politics. It’s about students who have spent almost a decade waiting to be inducted. It’s about our future, our profession, and our mental health,” one union official stated anonymously in a follow-up call with The Nigeria Education News.
The Students’ Union also expressed hope that Peter Obi, known for donating ICT centres, boreholes, and educational materials across institutions, will once again lead by example and draw national attention to the plight of future dentists in Nigeria. “We are inspired by what he did at UNN, and we hope UNICAL will not be left behind,” they concluded.
With growing calls for intervention from across the country, it remains to be seen if this appeal will result in swift, tangible support for the Faculty of Dentistry at UNICAL. For now, students, parents, and faculty alike are holding on to hope that help will come, and that someone like Peter Obi will answer their call.
