Rumpus In UNICAL as VC Sends Home Dentistry Students over Inflated Admission

Outrage has erupted at the University of Calabar (UNICAL) as the Vice Chancellor sends Dentistry students home due to inflated admissions.   The institution is gripped by tension following the Vice Chancellor's decision to dismiss hundreds of students from the Faculty of Dentistry and Dental Surgery after admitting more students than sanctioned by regulatory authorities.   SaharaReporters has learned that the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Florence Banku Obi, issued the directive during a meeting with the affected students and their parents on Thursday, July 10. This action follows the discovery that the school had surpassed the admission quota established by the Nigerian Medical and Dental Council. A memo from the Provost's Office, College of Medical Sciences (Ref: UC/cMS/PO/209), dated July 7, 2025, summoned all dental students and their parents to the meeting.   Although the agenda was not disclosed, the letter signed by Mrs. Anita B. Eyo, Deputy Registrar/College Secretary, was titled: "Notice of Meeting with the Vice-Chancellor." During the meeting, students from 200 to 600 levels were informed they must return home with their parents until the school resolves the over-admission crisis.   Affected students, many of whom have invested significant sums in tuition, accommodation, and other fees, expressed frustration and indignation. One student characterized the situation as a "grave injustice," accusing the university of avarice for admitting far more students than the approved number.   "The Medical Council allotted a quota of 10, yet the university admitted over 300 students in a single class," a student lamented. Another student mentioned that the Vice Chancellor prohibited all forms of protest, exacerbating the students' sense of powerlessness. "We've been spending money on school fees, rent, books, and sustenance - now they're telling us to go home as if we don't matter," she said. Students have demanded a reversal of the decision, calling for accountability and justice. As of now, the situation remains unresolved, and tensions are palpable within the campus community.