“Nigeria has failed my child”: Parent raises alarm over UNIBEN admission issues

A worried parent of a University of Benin (UNIBEN) student has raised an alarm over what they described as unfair treatment of students admitted into the Doctor of Optometry programme for the 2025/2026 academic session.

The parent, in a message sent to ARISE TV journalist Rufai Oseni via X (formerly Twitter), said UNIBEN admitted about 350 students into the Optometry programme, only to later claim it could retain just 150 students due to quota and accreditation issues.

According to the message, the affected students received official admission letters from both UNIBEN and JAMB, paid acceptance fees specifically for Optometry, resumed academic activities in November 2025, and began lectures as full-time Optometry students.

However, about four months into the session, the university reportedly informed students that only 150 of them would be allowed to remain in the programme, while the others would be transferred to different courses.

The parent said many of the affected students are now being denied clearance, even as examinations are scheduled to begin in March.

This, they noted, has left students confused, anxious, and uncertain about their academic future.

“What pains me the most is that these children did nothing wrong,” the parent wrote. “We paid acceptance fees in good faith, believing our children were properly admitted into Optometry.”

The parent accused the university of a lack of transparency, stating that there has been no clear communication on how the 150 students will be selected or why the issue was not addressed earlier.

They also expressed concern about the mental health and emotional wellbeing of the students, many of whom are still in 100 level and unsure of their academic standing.

“These students don’t even know what department they belong to at this point, yet lectures are ongoing and exams are approaching,” the parent said.

Calling the situation an institutional failure, the parent appealed for public attention and intervention, alleging that the matter is being handled quietly without proper engagement with parents and students.

“I cannot watch my child’s dreams and mental health suffer because of irresponsibility from UNIBEN,” the message concluded. “Nigeria has failed my child.”

As of the time of filing this report, the University of Benin had not issued an official public statement addressing the concerns raised by parents and students over the Optometry admission crisis.