UCTH CMD, Dr Ikpeme A Ikpeme, Rejects 17 Medical Doctors for Being Igbo

 

Seventeen newly inducted medical doctors who are in for their one year post qualification training ( Housemanship) are lamenting their rejection by the Chief Medical Direct ( CMD) of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) Dr. Ikpeme Asanye Ikpeme, over being Igbo.

The newly inducted doctor were said to have arrived UCTH on Sunday,11 of January, 2026 , but were told that they cannot be accepted because 15 out of 17 of them were Igbo. Ikpeme was said to have told the two none Igbo that, he was sorry that they were caught up in the mess .

One of the doctors in a SOS message he sent to the Arise journalist, Mr Rufi Oseni and published on Oseni’s verified Facebook page said.

“I am a House officer that was posted to UCTH to begin my Housemanship, I got to Calabar on Sunday, I met with others that also travelled from distant locations to resume House Job duties, for context I base in Lagos, although I’m from the East, on Monday we went to the administrative building to meet with the CMD and also begin our clearance and orientation. To my surprise he rejected us, all 17 of us, he told us he has petitioned the list of House officers sent to the facility to MDCN, and until MDCN replies he’s not clearing us. He gave his reasons, some of which are:
1. Why 15 of 17 HO’s are from one tribe/region
2. Why are there no Cross Riverians in the list of posted Officers from MDCN
3. They told MDCN they have 50 slots, why are we 17?
Honestly sir, I was shocked.
He went on to talk about how it’s becoming a normal thing, how we igbos we’re coming to saturate the whole place, he accused

us of paying to get the placements, he said he has evidence but failed to show us any evidence. The whole thing is just frustrating, we don’t even have accommodation as we speak most of us sleep on the floor in the room of older house officers in the facility with just wrapper on the floor, these house officers go ahead to tell us how it’s a regular thing there, in some cases he will approve clearance for the house officers from other tribe, then reject the ones from Igbo telling them “Go to the East, there’s no space”. One person even got in touch with the CMD of their own University’s teaching hospital, where they graduated, he spoke to him and he said the list would be cancelled, he blatantly told the two non Igbos that they’re unfortunately caught up in this mess and nothing will be done, telling us to stop hanging around the premises and travel back home. Sir I’m honestly tired, I never for once thought I will face this level of Tribalism in my life.
National Association of Resident Doctors UCTH and NMA Cross River branch reached out to him, still he was adamant. All these are factors that ignites the JAPA mentality amongst Healthcare workers.
Sir please help us, I have never felt so much regret for studying this course like I felt these past 2 days.”
He said.

When Wawareporters contacted the UCTH via a phone number in the hospital website, the officer who refused to mention her name said she was not authorized to speak for the hospital and that she was not aware of anything like that.

” This is UCTH contact, but I can speak for the hospital, if you can find time to come speak with the management, they will provide answers to whatever question you have ” she said.