Madonna University, Elele Campus, Rivers State, has reportedly expelled a final-year nursing student identified as Mercy and suspended 14 other 500-level nursing students over a viral TikTok video recorded on the university premises.
The video showed a group of nursing students dancing in different locations, including a hospital waiting area, staircase and a bus.
Mercy, who reportedly appeared in the opening seconds of the video dancing in a hospital hallway, was said to have received her expulsion letter during the week.
The dance was reportedly part of a social media trend known as the “Gen Z nurses” challenge, which features healthcare workers dancing in clinical environments.
The video also contained a Pidgin English caption that read: “No fall sick o, na Gen Z full hospital now.”
By Saturday evening, the TikTok account used to publish the video had reportedly been set to private, while direct messages sent to the account were said to remain undelivered.
The clip was reportedly uploaded in August before gaining wider attention after being shared by social media blogs early last month.
A 15-second version of the video published by Yabaleftonline on September 1 had reportedly garnered more than 1.7 million views on X by Saturday.
The video was recorded on the premises of Madonna University’s Elele campus.
Madonna University, established as the first private Catholic university in West Africa, operates campuses in Elele, Rivers State; Okija, Anambra State; and Akpugo, Enugu State.
The development attracted the attention of medical influencer and TikTok content creator, Nurse Girma (@nurse_girma), who launched an online appeal urging the university to reconsider the disciplinary action against the students.
In a video posted on Friday, Girma confirmed that the university’s senate had reportedly approved the disciplinary measures.
“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 explained that the video had attracted widespread criticism online and prompted healthcare professionals to call for stricter regulation of student conduct.
Girma said he initially believed the individuals in the video were already registered nurses but later deleted some of his comments after discovering that they were undergraduate students.
“Yesterday night, unfortunately, the senate of her school handed out an expulsion letter and every other person involved, a suspension letter.
“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 reported decision has generated mixed reactions on social media.
Some users supported the disciplinary measures, arguing that the students violated institutional rules and brought the university and nursing profession into disrepute.
An X user, Ize (@santaluceya), backed the university’s decision, claiming that students were expected to protect the institution’s reputation and comply with its guidelines.
Another social media user also claimed that the students were asked to remove the video after it began attracting attention but allegedly refused. The claim could not be independently verified.
Similarly, TikTok user Sharon (officialsharonbackup) argued that the students’ conduct was inappropriate for final-year nursing students preparing to enter the profession.
“These are not 100-level students; they are final-year students about to become registered nurses who made a video that mocked patients,” Sharon wrote.
However, other social media users described the punishment as excessive and urged the university to reconsider the expulsion.
TikTok user Her Excellency (her_excellency75) described the dancing as a possible form of stress relief, while stressing the need for balance.
An X user, Nurse Bassey (@nursebassey_), also questioned whether expulsion was proportionate given the years of education and financial investment involved.
“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 TikTok user, Cynthia Mordi, suggested that the university could have imposed an alternative punishment, such as withholding the students’ results for a year or assigning them community service.
Meanwhile, the National Executive Council of the Nigerian Universities Nursing Students’ Association (NUNSA) has expressed concern over the reported sanctions.
In a statement signed by its National President, Madu Valentine, and Secretary-General, Ogwuche Joy, the association said it had commenced discussions with relevant authorities in an effort to have the decision reviewed.
“High-level discussions have already commenced with relevant stakeholders, and decisive steps are being taken to formally communicate our concerns to the university’s management,” the statement read.
NUNSA added:
“Our primary objective is to seek a fair, just, and favourable resolution by adequately representing the interests and welfare of the affected students.”
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) also reportedly reacted to the development, with further details of its position expected to emerge.
