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 recorded on the institution’s premises. The disciplinary action followed the circulation of a video showing the nursing students dancing in a hospital waiting area, staircase, and bus as part of the “Gen Z nurses” social media trend.
The expelled student, identified as Mercy, appeared in the opening seconds of the video dancing in a hospital hallway. She reportedly received her expulsion letter during the week.
The video, which was uploaded in August and gained wider attention after appearing on social media blogs last month, carried a Pidgin caption: “No fall sick o, na Gen Z full hospital now.”
A 15-second version published by Yabaleftonline on September 1 had attracted more than 1.7 million views on X by Saturday.
The sanctions have triggered calls for leniency from student and nursing groups, with the National Executive Council of the Nigerian Universities Nursing Students’ Association saying it had begun discussions with relevant authorities to seek a review of the decision.
“High-level discussions have already commenced with relevant stakeholders,” NUNSA said in a statement signed by its National President, Madu Valentine, and Secretary General, Ogwuche Joy.
“Our primary objective is to seek a fair, just, and favourable resolution by adequately representing the interests and welfare of the affected students,” the association added.
The National Association of Nigerian Students also appealed to the university management to reconsider the expulsion, warning that it could have long-term consequences for the affected students.
“An expulsion at this stage could have a lasting toll on their academics, their future careers, and their mental and emotional well-being,” NANS said.
The controversy also drew the intervention of medical influencer and TikTok content creator, Nurse Girma, who appealed to the university to temper justice with mercy.
“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 said.
He said the development prompted him to appeal for clemency after learning that the expelled student was a 500-level undergraduate.
“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 sanctions have divided opinions online, with some users supporting the university’s decision on the grounds that the students allegedly breached institutional guidelines, while others described the punishment as excessive.
One X user, Ize, argued that students were expected to protect the university’s reputation and comply with its rules.
Another user, Nurse Bassey, questioned the decision to expel a student after years of nursing education.
“Do you think nursing school is a two-month course?” Bassey queried, while acknowledging that the video could be condemned if considered inappropriate.
Other users suggested alternatives such as a warning, community service or withholding the students’ results for a period.
The video was recorded at the university’s Elele campus, one of Madonna University’s three campuses in Nigeria.
The university’s Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Chima Achu, said management would issue an official response on Monday.
“The university will officially respond to this issue, and you will get it on Monday,” Achu said.
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