While the Nigerian Universities Games (NUGA) continue smoothly at the University of Jos, another group of students on campus faces deep uncertainty over their academic future.
Students of the Faculty of Dentistry have raised concerns over what they described as “a decade-long stagnation” in their programme, lamenting that they have spent ten years studying a six-year course without any graduate or clinical examination since the faculty’s establishment in 2015.
At a press conference held on Friday, October 31, 2025, at the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat, Plateau State Chapter, the President of the Jos University Dental Students Association (JUDENSA), Johnson Titus Bisani, said the delay had caused “emotional trauma and hopelessness” among students.
“We are emotionally drained and mentally exhausted. Many of us are battling depression after ten years of frustration, delays, and unfulfilled expectations,” Bisani stated.
He explained that despite securing pre-clinical accreditation in June 2024 following the intervention of Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, the clinical accreditation remains pending more than a year later.
“We were promised that within six months, the clinical accreditation would be completed, and our pioneer set would be inducted by 2025. But here we are, still stuck and uncertain about our future,” he said.
The student leader blamed the prolonged delay on the university’s management, not the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), urging the Federal Government and relevant authorities to intervene.
Bisani appealed to the National Assembly, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Health, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, and the MDCN Chairperson, Prof. Fatima Kyari, to compel the university to provide a concrete timeline for accreditation and compensate affected students.
He also appreciated the support of Governor Mutfwang, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Plateau Chapter, and other professional bodies that had shown solidarity.
Students Protest Amid Ongoing NUGA Games
The students resumed their protest on November 5 and 6, 2025, carrying placards at the university gate demanding urgent action from management.
Videos obtained by Nigeria Education News showed security personnel dispersing the peaceful protesters with tear gas, an action condemned by both the Students’ Union Government (SUG) and JUDENSA in separate press statements.
In a statement jointly signed by JUDENSA President Johnson Titus Bisani and Secretary-General Apollos Olofu, the association condemned what it described as “the unprofessional conduct of the police” and called for an investigation into the incident.
The SUG, in a separate release, expressed solidarity with the dentistry students and denounced any form of intimidation or harassment of peaceful protesters.
“No student should be made to feel unsafe while peacefully demanding fairness and accountability,” the SUG President, Jane Kangyang Pwajok, stated.
The union also confirmed that following the protest, a meeting was held with the Vice-Chancellor, where commitments were made to address the concerns raised by the students.
Recurring Challenge Across Dental Schools
Observers note that the crisis mirrors a similar situation at the University of Calabar, where dental students have faced prolonged delays due to accreditation challenges. Reports indicate that some affected students there have experienced mental health struggles, with cases of depression linked to academic stagnation.
Education stakeholders have urged the Federal Government and the National Universities Commission (NUC) to ensure universities secure proper accreditation before admitting students into specialized programmes such as dentistry and medicine.
They stressed that prolonged delays not only waste students’ time and financial resources but also undermine Nigeria’s healthcare manpower development.
“The authorities must take decisive action to prevent such academic injustice from recurring,” one education advocate told The Nigeria Education News.
