Madonna University, Elele, Rivers State, has expelled a final-year nursing student identified as Mercy and suspended 14 other 500-level students over a viral social media video showing nursing students dancing on campus and in a hospital environment.
The video, which was recorded on the university premises, featured the students dancing in a hospital waiting area, staircase and inside a bus as part of a social media trend popularly known as the “Gen Z nurses” challenge.
Mercy appeared at the beginning of the video dancing in a hospital corridor. The clip also carried a Pidgin English caption which read: “No fall sick o, na Gen Z full hospital now.”
The video was reportedly uploaded in August but gained wider attention after being shared by social media blogs in September. A 15-second version posted by Yabaleftonline on September 1 reportedly attracted more than 1.7 million views on X.
The TikTok account that originally posted the video had been made private by Saturday, while messages sent to the account were reportedly undelivered.
The disciplinary action has sparked debate among healthcare professionals, students and social media users, with opinions divided over whether the sanctions were appropriate.
Medical influencer and TikTok creator, Nurse Girma, who drew public attention to the video, appealed to the university to reconsider the punishment.
In a video posted on Friday, Girma said information available to him indicated that the university Senate had expelled the student who owned the account and suspended the other students involved.
He said he initially believed the students were registered nurses but later discovered that they were undergraduates.
Girma urged the university to temper justice with mercy, particularly because Mercy was reportedly in her final year after several years of nursing education and clinical training.
However, some social media users backed the university’s decision, arguing that final-year nursing students should understand the professional standards expected of healthcare workers and should not publish content capable of damaging the image of the profession.
Others described the punishment as excessive and called for alternative sanctions, including a warning, community service or temporary suspension.
The National Executive Council of the Nigerian Universities Nursing Students’ Association also expressed concern over the sanctions.
In a statement signed by its National President, Madu Valentine, and Secretary-General, Ogwuche Joy, NUNSA said it had opened discussions with relevant authorities in an effort to secure a review of the university’s decision.
The association said its objective was to ensure a fair and favourable resolution while protecting the interests and welfare of the affected students.
The National Association of Nigerian Students similarly appealed to the university management to reconsider the expulsion.
Its President, Akinteye Afeez, warned that expelling students at such an advanced stage of their education could have lasting consequences for their academic progress and future careers.
NANS urged the institution to consider a stern warning or other corrective measures instead.
Madonna University, founded as the first private Catholic university in West Africa, operates campuses in Elele, Rivers State; Okija, Anambra State; and Akpugo, Enugu State.
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 university will officially respond to this issue, and you will get it on Monday,” Achu said.