Madonna University, Elele Campus in Rivers State, has expelled a final-year nursing student and suspended 14 other 500-level students over a viral TikTok video showing nursing students dancing on the university premises.
The expelled student, identified simply as Mercy, reportedly featured at the beginning of the video, dancing in a hospital corridor.
The clip, recorded in a hospital waiting area, staircase and a bus, was part of the “Gen Z nurses” social media trend, which features healthcare workers dancing in clinical environments.
The video carried a Pidgin caption that read, “No fall sick o, na Gen Z full hospital now.”
A 15-second version of the video published by Yabaleftonline on September 1 had attracted more than 1.7 million views on X by Saturday.
The video was reportedly recorded at the university’s Elele campus and was uploaded in August.
The TikTok account used to post the original video was set to private by Saturday evening, while attempts to contact the account holder through direct messages were unsuccessful.
The disciplinary action drew public attention after medical influencer and TikTok content creator Nurse Girma appealed to the university to reconsider the sanctions.
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.
“Yesterday night, unfortunately, the senate of her school handed out an expulsion letter and every other person involved, a suspension letter,” he said.
Girma said he initially believed the students were registered nurses before learning that they were undergraduate nursing students.
“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 added.
The sanctions have generated mixed reactions on social media.
Some users supported the university’s action, arguing that final-year nursing students should understand professional standards and institutional rules.
Others, however, described the expulsion as excessive and urged the institution to consider less severe disciplinary measures.
An X user, Nurse Bassey, argued that while the video could be condemned as inappropriate, expelling a student after years of nursing education was disproportionate.
Another social media user suggested that the university could have imposed a one-year withholding of results or community service instead.
The National Executive Council of the Nigerian Universities Nursing Students’ Association has also intervened, saying it had begun discussions with relevant authorities to seek a review of the sanctions.
In a statement signed by its National President, Madu Valentine, and Secretary General, Ogwuche Joy, NUNSA said it was seeking a fair resolution that would protect the interests and welfare of the affected students.
The National Association of Nigerian Students also appealed to the university to reconsider the expulsion and suspensions.
In a statement by its President, Akinteye Afeez, NANS said an expulsion at the final stage of the students’ academic programme could have long-term consequences for their education and future careers.
The student body urged the university to consider a stern warning instead.
Meanwhile, 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.
Madonna University was established as the first private Catholic university in West Africa and operates campuses in Elele, Rivers State; Okija, Anambra State; and Akpugo, Enugu State.
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