acadablog:
The Executive Secretary, National Universities
Commission (NUC), Professor Julius A. Okojie, has said
that, so far, only Universities of Technology could be
approved to run a B.Sc Dental Technology in the
Nigerian University System (NUS).

He made this known when he received a
delegation from the Dental Technologists Registration
Board of Nigeria, (DTRBN) led by its Registrar, Dr. Yinka
Olaiya who paid him courtesy visit on Wednesday
5, November, 2014, in his office.

Professor Okojie, observed that after all the necessary
diligence had been put in place Dental Technology
would be incorporated as part of the programmes
run by the Universities of Technology to ensure a
better outing, since the programme had direct link with
the specialized institution.

He noted that although it was not only when the
Commission approved BSc programme for the Board
before they could do better,stressing that if the
members strive harder to leverage on their skills by
developing laboratories, thereby standardizing their
quality.

The Executive Secretary directed the delegation to
liaise with the Department of Academic Standards for
proper mentoring on how the Board could
effectively handle the task, adding that there were lots
of fundamental issues which the Board needed to
put in place including the Philosophy of Programme,
Vision, Mission, among other essential
information regarding the introduction of a new
programme in the NUS.

He advised the Board to forward its proposal on the
matter to the that the Commission would be in touch
with targeted universities after which, he said, a
meeting of stakeholders would be conveyed for further
action on the matter.

Briefing the Executive Secretary, earlier, the Registrar
recalled that the Dental Technology profession was
established by the enactment of British government
ordinance of 1952, approved by her Majesty, signed by
Sir, John Stuart Macpherson.

He added that the enactment of the ordinance of 1952
provided for the training, registration, regulation and
control of Medical Auxiliaries, stressing that
this subsequently led to the establishment of many
schools, including Federal School of Dental
Technology, Lagos in 1955, which later relocated to
Enugu in January 1982, School of Radiology Yaba,
Lagos, School of Medical Laboratory, Jos as well as
School of Physiotherapy Kano, among others.