Madonna University Expels Final-Year Nursing Student, Suspends 14 Others Over Viral TikTok Video
E-ISSN: 2354-4481
By Dike Ozioma-Fred
ELELE, RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA — Madonna University, Elele Campus in Rivers State, has expelled a final-year nursing student identified as Mercy and suspended 14 other 500-level nursing students over a viral TikTok video showing them dancing on the university premises.
The disciplinary action followed the circulation of a video in which the students participated in a dance trend associated with the “Gen Z nurses” movement on social media.
The video showed the students dancing at different locations, including a hospital waiting area, staircase and inside a university bus.
The clip carried a Pidgin caption which read: “No fall sick o, na Gen Z full hospital now.”
The video was reportedly recorded at the university’s Elele campus and initially uploaded in August before attracting wider attention on social media. A shorter, 15-second version of the video subsequently circulated online and reportedly garnered more than 1.7 million views.
The development generated widespread reactions, particularly among members of the nursing and healthcare communities, with opinions divided over the appropriateness of the students’ conduct and the severity of the disciplinary measures imposed by the university.
Medical content creator, Nurse Girma, who helped draw public attention to the video, said the university’s Senate had taken disciplinary action against the students.
He appealed to the institution to reconsider the expulsion of the final-year student, urging the university to show leniency because of the stage of her academic programme.
The disciplinary measures have continued to generate debate on social media.
While some commentators supported the university’s decision, they argued that nursing students are expected to maintain professional standards and that conduct capable of undermining public confidence in the healthcare profession should attract appropriate sanctions.
Others, however, described the punishment as excessive, arguing that the students had already spent several years undergoing professional training and should have been given less severe disciplinary measures.
Suggestions from some commentators included a formal warning, community service, counselling or temporary suspension rather than expulsion.
The National Executive Council of the Nigerian Universities Nursing Students’ Association (NUNSA) has also intervened in the matter.
The association said it had commenced discussions with relevant authorities in an effort to secure a review of the university’s decision and represent the interests of the affected students.
Similarly, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) appealed to Madonna University to reconsider the expulsion.
NANS expressed concern about the possible consequences of the decision on the affected students’ education and future professional careers, particularly the final-year student.
The controversy comes amid growing debate over the use of social media by students and professionals in sensitive fields such as nursing and medicine.
Universities and professional bodies have increasingly stressed the importance of responsible online conduct, particularly where social media content is recorded within professional or institutional environments.
Meanwhile, Madonna University has yet to publicly release a detailed statement explaining the specific provisions of its regulations allegedly breached by the students or the individual sanctions imposed on each of them.
The university’s Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Chima Achu, said the institution would issue an official statement on the matter on Monday.
The statement is expected to provide further details on the circumstances surrounding the disciplinary action and the university’s position on the viral video.
