The Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) has condemned the continued exclusion of its qualified members from contesting for the position of Vice-Chancellor (VC) in Nigerian universities, describing the practice as discriminatory, outdated, and contrary to existing laws.
In a statement jointly signed by MDCAN President, Prof. Mohammad Aminu, and Secretary General, Prof. Daiyabu Ibrahim, and made available to journalists in Jos, the association decried the recurring trend of disqualifying Professors of Medicine and Dentistry on the basis of not holding a PhD—despite occupying professorial chairs and possessing extensive academic and administrative experience.
The association described the criteria—often listed in advertisements for VC appointments—as “archaic,” arguing that prioritizing PhDs over Professorships ignores the Nigerian Universities Miscellaneous Provisions Act (Amendment) 2003, which recognizes Colleges of Medicine as integral, autonomous arms of the university system.
“This practice violates the principles of meritocracy, equity, and established federal guidelines,” MDCAN stated, citing that their members have served as Heads of Departments, Deans, and Provosts with distinguished records in teaching, research, and institutional development.
The association also stressed that their members are not “second-class” academics but full-fledged professors who have contributed significantly to university growth and global visibility through research citations and major grants.
“It is disheartening that despite being among the highest-ranking academics, our members are consistently barred from attaining the highest level of university leadership,” the statement read. “This glass ceiling is unjust and counterproductive, especially when medical professors routinely occupy Vice-Chancellor positions abroad with commendable results.”
MDCAN warned that the exclusion undermines Nigeria’s higher education system by marginalizing a pool of qualified leaders, thereby weakening the synergy between healthcare and education at a time when the country is facing critical public health challenges and mass migration of skilled professionals.
The group specifically called for the immediate revision of recent VC advertisements by the University of Calabar and the University of Uyo, which it says deliberately excluded Medical and Dental Professors.
They also urged University Governing Councils to adopt transparent, merit-based selection processes aligned with the Federal Ministry of Education’s guidelines and the National Universities Commission’s (NUC) mandate for equitable representation.
“We demand a formal inquiry into all Nigerian universities perpetuating this exclusionary practice, with sanctions for non-compliance,” MDCAN said. “The marginalization of medical academics demoralizes innovation and limits the leadership pool available to our institutions.”
The association praised the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, for issuing clear directives in April 2025 to address the issue and called on the Ministry, the NUC, and governing councils to enforce the guidelines with immediate effect.
“Nigeria’s universities cannot afford to exclude some of their brightest minds from leadership. The system must reflect the diversity and excellence of its academic community,” the statement concluded.
