By Joy Odor
The Federal Government has called on dental technologists across the country to step up their contributions to Nigeria’s healthcare system, pledging stronger support to the profession as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The appeal came on Thursday at the maiden Dental Technologists Summit held at the National Merit Award House, Abuja, where stakeholders from government, academia, and the dental profession gathered to chart a strategic future for the sector.
Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, who supervises the Dental Technologists Registration Board of Nigeria (DTRBN), described the profession as indispensable to restorative and rehabilitative care.
“Healthcare delivery is teamwork. Without your contribution, the dental team cannot optimally restore smiles, improve oral health, and enhance the well-being of our people,” Salako said, commending practitioners for their technical expertise in fabricating essential dental appliances.
The Minister urged the DTRBN to strengthen regulation by adopting digital technologies to register practitioners, renew licences, and eliminate quackery.
“Be forthcoming in your regulatory responsibilities. Quacks must not be given room to operate anywhere in Nigeria,” he stressed.
Salako also challenged dental technologists to embrace innovation, continuous learning, and global best practices to remain competitive and deliver patient-centered care.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Kachollom S. Daju, hailed the summit as a milestone for the profession, noting that dental technologists play a critical but often unrecognised role in modern dentistry.
“Though often behind the scenes, dental technologists are the backbone of dentistry, crafting crowns, bridges, and dentures that restore health, function, and confidence to millions,” she said.
She traced the profession’s growth from City and Guilds certifications to degree programmes in institutions like the Federal University of Allied Health Sciences, Enugu, and the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, affirming the government’s commitment to advancing oral healthcare.
Earlier, DTRBN Registrar Mallam Idris Ahmad Bappah described the two-day summit, themed “Dental Technologists, Past, Present and Future”, as a platform to share ideas, unveil innovations, and forge partnerships to drive systemic change in oral health delivery.
The event drew policymakers, researchers, students, and practitioners to review the evolution of dental technology and set a roadmap for future advancements.
