Posted on: Sat 01-11-2025

In a stunning development that has sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s academic and healthcare communities, over 500 pharmacy students at the University of Calabar (UNICAL) have raised alarm over the institution’s failure to secure accreditation for their programme—despite nearly a decade of study.

The students, now in their final year, staged a peaceful march on campus to demand urgent action. They claim the university’s negligence, underfunding, and lack of infrastructure have left them stranded, unable to graduate or become licensed pharmacists.

We’re in 600 level, yet we have no functional laboratories or even proper classrooms,” lamented Ndifreke Okowo, a student leader. “We were told our programme was illegal when we reached 400 level. We had to go back to 200 level. Now, years later, we’re still not accredited.”

The Pharmacy programme, launched in 2016 under former Vice Chancellor Prof. Zana Akpagu, has reportedly struggled to meet the basic standards set by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN). Despite reapplying under the Doctor of Pharmacy framework, the university has failed to meet requirements due to inadequate staffing and facilities.

Another student, Iris Johnson, expressed deep frustration: “We’ve been promised that the PCN would visit for accreditation between October and November, but nothing has happened. The VC is about to leave office, and we fear this will end like the Dentistry programme—abandoned.”

The students are calling on the federal and state governments, as well as the PCN, to intervene immediately. They warn that without accreditation, their years of academic effort will be wasted, and their dreams of becoming pharmacists crushed.

UNICAL’s Public Relations Officer, Eyo Effiong, downplayed the incident, stating that the students were not protesting but merely engaging the Vice Chancellor in dialogue. “The VC has invited them for a meeting later this week,” he said.

But for the students, time is running out—and so is their patience.

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