The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday urged the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria to allow foreign students from war-torn countries with Certificates to sit for their professional exams.
The upper legislative Chamber also called on the Committee of Vice Chancellors to absorb foreign students who fled the war-ravaged countries to enable them finish theirs. programs.
The Senate adopted the resolution following a motion sponsored by Senator Oyewumi Kamorudeen Olarere, who represents Osun West Senatorial District.
In the motion, Olarere narrated how foreign students who graduated in Medicine and Surgery, stormed his office during the recess to complain that they were being discriminated against by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.
In his contribution, the Senator representing Bauchi North Senatorial District, Samaila Dahuwa Kaila opined that there was nothing wrong in subjecting graduates from foreign Universities to assessment.
According to him, he passed through assessment after he graduated from a University in Bulgaria in 1988, hence, “there was nothing new in assessing students that graduated from foreign universities.”
“We all passed through the same process, having passed out of a Bulgarian University, we were assessed and worked till we retired.
“I am not saying we should bend the rules and it is a global practice and so they should be assessed based on our standard.”
In his remarks, Senate President, Godswill Obot Akpabio said there are two issues, foreign students who ran away from the war-torn Ukraine and even Sudan and those who have completed their studies with certificates and not those who fled midway into their academic career.
After the Sponsor of the motion clarified that he was speaking for those who have completed their courses, he explained that the students should be allowed to observe due process and rules governing the council.
The Senate, thereafter, urged the Council to allow those who graduated from Ukraine in 2023 and other countries affected by war with certificates to sit for the MDCN examination in July and November.
He urged the council to conduct examinations in the six geopolitical zones like the Nigerian Law School.
In the amended prayers, the Chamber further approved that the Committee of Vice Chancellors should allow Nigerian students of Medicine and Surgery and other professions who fled from war-torn countries to be absorbed into Nigerian Universities to complete their various studies.
