Madonna University Expels Final-Year Nursing Student, Suspends 14 Others Over Viral TikTok Dance Video

Madonna University, Elele Campus, Rivers State, has expelled a final-year nursing student and suspended 14 other 500-level students over a viral TikTok video showing them dancing in hospital ward as part of the ‘Gen Z nurses’ trend.

The video, reportedly recorded as part of the trending “Gen Z nurses” social media challenge, showed the students dancing in a hospital waiting area, staircase and a bus.

Mercy appeared in the opening seconds of the video dancing in a hospital hallway. She was reportedly issued an expulsion letter during the week.

The video was accompanied by a Pidgin caption which read, “No fall sick o, na Gen Z full hospital now.”

Although the video was reportedly uploaded in August, it gained widespread attention after being reposted by social media platforms and blogs early last month.

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A 15-second version published by Yabaleftonline on September 1 had garnered more than 1.7 million views on X by Saturday.

Following the controversy, the TikTok account used to upload the original video was reportedly switched to private, while attempts to contact the account holder through direct messages were unsuccessful.

The development drew the attention of medical influencer and TikTok content creator, Nurse Girma (@nurse_girma), who appealed to the university to reconsider the sanctions imposed on the students.

In a video posted on Friday, Girma confirmed that the university senate had taken disciplinary action against the students.

He said, “The information reaching us from last night and this morning is that the owner of the account has been expelled and other students involved have been served suspension.”

Girma explained that he initially believed the students were registered nurses before discovering that they were still undergraduates.

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He appealed to the university to temper justice with mercy, particularly because Mercy was reportedly in her final year.

“I know what has happened has happened, but I want to appeal to the school to temper justice with mercy; when it came to me that she is a 500-level student, it really melted my heart,” he said.

The university’s decision has generated mixed reactions on social media.

Some users supported the sanctions, arguing that the students had violated institutional rules and portrayed the nursing profession in a negative light.

Others, however, described the punishment as excessive and urged the university to consider alternative disciplinary measures.

An X user, Nurse Bassey (@nursebassey_), questioned the decision to expel a student after years of academic and clinical training.

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“Do you think nursing school is a two-month course? You can condemn the video if you think it was inappropriate, but expulsion after years of school fees, clinicals, exams, and sacrifice?” Bassey queried.

Another social media user suggested that the university could have withheld the students’ results for a year or assigned them community service instead of expulsion.

Reacting to the development, the National Executive Council of the Nigerian Universities Nursing Students’ Association expressed concern over the sanctions.

In a statement signed by its National President, Madu Valentine, and Secretary General, Ogwuche Joy, NUNSA said it had commenced discussions with relevant authorities to seek a review of the decision.

The association said its objective was to secure a “fair, just, and favourable resolution” while protecting the interests and welfare of the affected students.

Similarly, the National Association of Nigerian Students appealed to the university management to reconsider the expulsion.

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In a statement signed by its President, Akinteye Afeez, NANS warned that expulsion at the final stage of the students’ academic programme could have serious consequences for their education and future careers.

The students’ body urged the university to replace the expulsion with a stern warning.

When contacted by Sunday PUNCH, the Director of Communications and Public Affairs of Madonna University, Chima Achu, said the institution would issue an official statement on the matter.

“The university will officially respond to this issue, and you will get it on Monday,” Achu said.