Enugu college pulls off ‘first dental nursing exam in West Africa’

The Federal College of Dental Technology and Therapy in Enugu (FEDCODTTEN) says it is now the first in West Africa to lead its students for a professional Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) examination on dental nursing.

According to FEDCODTTEN, the development means the college is the first institution of higher learning to train dental nurses in West Africa.

The professional examination, which is a precursor to obtaining practicing licenses by prospective dental nurses from NMCN, followed earlier conduct of the pre-council examination written by the students last October.

Timbuak Yamai, who led the council team to conduct the exam, hailed the college authority for the feat.

“The importance of the exam is that this is where we gratuity that we get into the pool of nursing professionals in the nation. It’s a national examination that qualifies one to be a nurse and practice anywhere in Nigeria,” he said.

Speaking earlier during the pre-council examination which lasted for three days, Ismail Mohammed, head of the Dental Nursing Department, emphasised that the exam was the first of its kind in the whole of West Africa.

“This is the first of its kind and we are happy. The Federal College of Dental Technology and Therapy, Enugu is the first institution to host such examinations,” he said.

“The achievement was anchored by the Rector, Dr. John Emaimo, who is a goal getter, a digital rector, who goes for the best and nothing but the best. He goes for quality.”

Mohammed said Africa had been itching to produce dental nurses but the college is the first to achieve the goal.

“You could only send them outside the country, either to Canada or the UK for training. Now we have it in Nigeria and this is the first set through the effort of the rector, the staff and the Federal Ministry of Health,” he added.