Medical students at the Federal University of Health Sciences Otukpo, FUHSO, were ordered to leave campus “with immediate effect until further notice” on Monday after protesting the school’s failure to get accreditation for their programme.
The students say FUHSO admitted three sets over three years without a licence to run the medical programme. Now they’re stuck, unable to sit board exams or move to clinical training.
A 200-level student told FIJ the issue started under pioneer VC Innocent Ujah in 2021. The first set finished pre-clinical work but couldn’t proceed because there were no facilities and no accreditation. The second set hit the same wall.
Current VC Francis Aba Uba took over last year. He built some structures, the student said, but not the right ones for accreditation. In February, he promised a Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria team would visit in April. By the third week of May, no team had come, and the school went silent.
Frustrated, students staged a peaceful protest on Monday with placards reading “accreditation or transfer.” They demanded to speak directly with the VC instead of delegating representatives, saying they didn’t want anyone intimidated or victimised. The VC arrived with police, the students said. After chanting “we want accreditation,” the VC left, and the protest ended around noon.
Hours later, management ordered the affected sets to vacate hostels immediately. Students said armed police were mobilised to evict them.
That order was later reversed. Dean of Student Affairs Peter Adikwu told students a new circular had overtaken the first one. He said an MDCN accreditation team would visit on May 21 and attendance was mandatory. Police have since left the hostels.
On social media, students vented their frustration. Doctor Benjamin Akinwale, who shared their message, wrote that the Class of 2020 and 2021 have been in 300-level for 2-3 years, repeating lectures and watching juniors in other schools graduate and start housemanship.
“Accreditation is not a favour. It is the promise you made to us when we were admitted,” the post read. “Give us a clear timeline. Give us the accreditation process you committed to. Give us back our future. We don’t want pity. We want to serve. Let us finish becoming doctors.”
FIJ called the number on the school website twice for comment but got no response.
