Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has donated N20 million to the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Calabar (UNICAL) to support over 300 dental students facing the risk of expulsion and academic disruption due to critical accreditation and equipment challenges. The faculty had been allocated only 10 slots for student intake by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) because of inadequate dental equipment and infrastructure.
The donation aims to help procure essential items such as dental chairs 15 additional ones are needed to meet MDCN's standards and expand the faculty’s capacity to train students properly. Obi criticized government neglect of basic educational needs while political leaders spend lavishly on luxuries, stating, “We cannot have a society where we spend millions to buy cars for politicians while young people lack the most basic tools to learn” and emphasizing that education is a right, not a privilege.
The University’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Florence Obi, had proposed transferring students to other institutions due to the shortage, but students protested this plan. Obi expressed his support for the students, underscoring that no young Nigerian should lose academic prospects because of institutional failings. He called on other leaders and well-meaning Nigerians to contribute to reviving the Faculty of Dentistry and empowering the nation’s youth.
This donation is part of Obi’s broader commitment to improving education and healthcare infrastructure across Nigeria, marking a significant step in addressing the urgent needs of dental students at UNICAL and advocating for better leadership and resource allocation in Nigerian universities.
