UNN Dentistry Faculty Urges Immediate Support Ahead of July Accreditation

The Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Nigeria, Ituku‑Ozalla campus, has issued a candid appeal for financial assistance this week.

The institution, serving as the only accredited dental school in Nigeria’s South-East, is set to undergo a critical re-accreditation by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) later this month.

Professor Linda Oge Okoye, the dean, clarified that the faculty is not in danger of losing its accreditation. Instead, she confirmed, re-accreditation is being pursued to raise the annual student intake from the current 15 to 60, following recognition that their clinical training facilities need urgent enhancement.

“We are not losing accreditation. We want to increase our quota…We feel we are good…because we have a lot of students seeking admission,” Prof. Okoye asserted.

Despite its pivotal role graduating dental professionals for a population exceeding 60 million the faculty’s enrolment remains restricted by outdated equipment and insufficient clinical laboratories. To meet MDCN’s requirements, basic needs include upgraded dental chairs, phantom-head units, expanded clinical spaces, and teaching aids .

Prof. Okoye disclosed they have compiled a list of essential items needed to secure MDCN approval for expansion. However, the funding gap remains wide, prompting the faculty to invite contributions from alumni, private organisations, NGOs, and philanthropists.

Expanding capacity to 60 students annually would markedly enhance oral healthcare sustainability across the South-East. Other Nigerian universities such as Lagos, Ibadan, Benin, Port‑Harcourt, and Maiduguri already operate with higher quotas under full MDCN accreditation.

The appeal is made publicly as the MDCN inspection team is expected on campus this July. Prompt support now would not only secure accreditation but also lay the groundwork for increased dental training output addressing critical regional needs.