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Academic and economic activities yesterday stood
still for several hours at the University of Benin and the entire
Ugbowo area of Benin City as students of the university, particularly
those from the College of Medicine, protested the non accreditation of
the faculty and that of dentistry by the Medical and Dental Council of
Nigeria (MDCN).

The students, who numbered several thousands, refused
to speak or talk to journalists until they meet with the vice
chancellor of the university, Oyuki Oshodin. The few who volunteered
comments said those of their colleagues who are to graduate in few
weeks’ time would not get their licence to practice as medical doctors
and dentists, despite the more than seven years they had spent in the
school.

“It is sad that the school authority had shown a
nonchalant attitude to our plight,” one of the students said, adding
that her colleagues are in despair over the future of their education.

Vehicular and human traffic along Ugbowo/Lagos road
were blocked by the protesters, even though the protest was peaceful.
It, however, made travelers to go through a hectic time finding their
way out of the city.

When NEXT visited the school premises, the entrance
gate was closed. The vice chancellor was also prevented from coming out
of the premises. The camera man attached to DBN Television was
manhandled by the visibly angry students who refused to say anything to
journalists.

When contacted on phone, Osaze Osarenren, public
relations officer of the university, said the students protested out of
ignorance, as the school had already put machineries in motion to meet
the demands of the MDCN.

“It was suspension of accreditation and they gave us
12 months to put those things right, and if we didn’t do, they can now
sanction us,” he said.

“We have been meeting with the ministry of education
on this matter, and things are being put in place. Before the end of
the ongoing examination, which is not even the finals, all these things
would be done. In fact, the vice chancellor and some senior officials
are airborne on Arik Air (3.05 pm) to Abuja on the same matter,” he
said.

Medical council seeks intervention

Meanwhile, the state chapter of the Nigerian Medical
Association (NMA), yesterday, in a statement signed by its chairman,
Philip Ugbodaga; secretary, Emmanuel Ighodaro; and public relations
officer, Kennedy Alohan, urged the council of the university and that
of Igbinedion University, which was also affected, to quickly meet the
demands of the MDCN so as not to create vacuum in the profession.

“As a responsible association, we support efforts by
the council at ensuring the maintenance of standards in medical
education in Nigeria Universities. The loss of accreditation by these
universities to train doctors has very serious implications for the
already comatose health sector in our state and country,” the council
said.

“We, therefore, call on the authorities of the affected universities
and the respective heads of the colleges of medical sciences to work
very closely with the MDCN, with a view to quickly addressing the
issues that led to this unfortunate situation,” it said.