Dental students at the University of Jos (UNIJOS) have staged a peaceful protest over what they describe as ten years of academic stagnation caused by incomplete accreditation of their program. The protest took place at the university’s permanent site on Thursday, drawing public attention as the institution hosts the 27th Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA).
According to Mediaplusng.com, the protesters, under the Jos University Dental Students’ Association (JUDENSA), gathered at the Plateau State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) before marching to the university gate. They displayed placards with messages such as “Ten Years, No Graduation,” “Save Our Future,” and “We Deserve Better.””
Speaking during the press briefing, JUDENSA President Johnson Titus Bisani said that many dental students have spent a decade in a program meant to last six years. He blamed the prolonged delay on the university’s failure to complete the accreditation process for its dental school.
> “We have endured ten years of emotional trauma and academic uncertainty. This is a painful experience for young Nigerians pursuing their dreams in dental healthcare,” Bisani said.
He explained that the university secured the first phase of accreditation, the pre-clinical stage, in 2024 after the intervention of Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, but progress has since Bisani noted that the students were promised that the clinical accreditation phase would follow within six months, yet over a year later, nothing has changed.
The protesting students accused the university management of poor communication and lack of commitment. They appealed to the Federal Ministry of Education, the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), and the National Assembly to step in and resolve the crisis.
As reported by Mediaplusng.com, the protest coincided with the university’s hosting of the NUGA Games, bringing national attention to the plight of the students. The protesters are calling for transparency, swift action, and full accreditation of their program so they can graduate and contribute to the health sector.
> “We are not asking for favours,” Bisani concluded. “We are asking for justice and the opportunity to complete our training as future dentists serving Nigeria.”
