CALABAR, Nigeria (FN) — Students of the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Calabar have renewed calls for immediate accreditation of their program, citing years of neglect, underfunding, and administrative delays that have left hundreds of students stranded academically and professionally.
On Thursday, over 500 students marched peacefully within the university campus, engaging the Vice Chancellor in what they described as a “constructive dialogue,” not a protest. Their demand: full accreditation from the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), which they say is long overdue.
“We are in 600 level, yet we have no functional laboratories,” said Ndifreke Okowo, a student representative. “Without PCN accreditation, we cannot graduate as licensed pharmacists. The university is toying with our future.”
The Pharmacy program, introduced in 2016 under former Vice Chancellor Prof. Zana Akpagu, has struggled to meet the basic standards required by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and PCN. Students say the program was launched without proper resource verification, leading to a major setback for the pioneer class.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Florence Obi, in response, acknowledged the students’ concerns and apologized for the prolonged delay. “I want to sincerely appeal to the students and their families,” she said. “We are working to resolve the accreditation issues. I have directed the Dean and relevant officials to fast-track the process and ensure PCN is invited without further delay”.
She also blamed internal lapses, including over-admission and poor planning by some faculty officials, for the setbacks. “We are correcting those mistakes and will not allow this to happen again,” she added.
The University Senate, in an emergency session held Friday, passed a resolution urging the administration to prioritize the Pharmacy accreditation process. A statement signed by Senate Secretary Dr. Emmanuel Ekanem read: “The Senate is deeply concerned about the impact of this delay on students and the reputation of the university. We call for immediate action to meet PCN requirements.”
The Cross River State Government has also weighed in. Commissioner for Health Dr. Henry Ayuk described the situation as “unacceptable” and pledged to support the university in meeting accreditation standards. “We cannot afford to have our future pharmacists stuck in limbo,” he said. “The state is ready to provide technical and logistical support to ensure this program is fully accredited.”
Students and lecturers alike expressed frustration over the lack of infrastructure and staffing:
“We need at least 50 academic staff, but we have barely a dozen,” said Dr. Emmanuel Udo, a senior lecturer.
“Our labs are empty. We’re learning pharmacy without touching equipment,” said Blessing Ogar, 600 level.
“We’ve had promises since 2021. Nothing has changed,” said Iris Johnson, 500 level.
“We sit on the floor during lectures,” said Samuel Effiong, 400 level.
“This is not just poor planning — it’s academic sabotage,” said Joy Eze, 500 level.
“We fear what happened to Dentistry will happen to us,” said Michael Bassey, 300 level.
“We’ve invested years. We deserve better,” said Victor Anya, 600 level.
“Some departments have only two lecturers. It’s overwhelming,” said Dr. Grace Nwankwo.
“We’re tired of empty promises,” said Deborah Okon, 200 level.
“This is a ticking time bomb,” said Dr. Felix Otu, faculty advisor.
As pressure mounts, students say they will continue to engage peacefully but insist on urgent action. “We’re not asking for miracles,” Okowo said. “We’re asking for the bare minimum to graduate with dignity.”
