Madonna University, Elele Campus, Rivers State, has expelled a final-year nursing student identified as Mercy and suspended 14 other 500-level students over a viral TikTok video showing nursing students dancing in a hospital environment.
The video, which emerged online in August and gained widespread attention in September, featured the students dancing in a hospital waiting area, staircase and inside a bus.
Mercy, who appeared in the opening seconds of the video dancing in a hospital hallway, reportedly received her expulsion letter during the week.
The dance was part of a social media trend known as the “Gen Z nurses” challenge, which features healthcare workers dancing in clinical settings. The video carried a Pidgin caption that read, “No fall sick o, na Gen Z full hospital now.”
A 15-second version posted by Yabaleftonline on September 1 reportedly attracted more than 1.7 million views on X by Saturday.
By Saturday evening, however, the TikTok account used to post the original video had been set to private, while direct messages sent to the account were reportedly undelivered.
Medical influencer and TikTok content creator, Nurse Girma (@nurse_girma), drew attention to the controversy and appealed to the university to reconsider the sanctions.
In a video posted on Friday, Girma confirmed that the university Senate had imposed disciplinary measures on the students.
He said he initially believed the students were already registered nurses but later learned that they were final-year undergraduates.
According to him, the seriousness of the sanctions became more concerning after he learnt that Mercy was a 500-level student who had already spent several years undergoing nursing training.
Girma appealed to the university to “temper justice with mercy,” while acknowledging that the students’ conduct had generated significant criticism among healthcare professionals.
The sanctions have generated divided reactions on social media.
Some users supported the university’s decision, arguing that final-year nursing students should understand the professional standards expected of healthcare workers and should not post content that could undermine the image of the profession.
Others, however, described the expulsion as excessive, arguing that the students should have received lesser sanctions, such as warnings, community service or temporary suspension.
An X user, Nurse Bassey, questioned whether expulsion was proportionate after years of tuition payments, clinical training and examinations.
The National Executive Council of the Nigerian Universities Nursing Students’ Association (NUNSA) also expressed concern over the disciplinary action.
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 to seek a review of the decision.
NUNSA said its objective was to secure a “fair, just, and favourable resolution” while adequately representing the interests and welfare of the affected students.
The National Association of Nigerian Students also appealed to Madonna University to reconsider the expulsion.
In a statement signed by its President, Akinteye Afeez, the student body warned that expulsion at such an advanced stage could have long-term consequences for the students’ academic progress and future careers.
NANS urged the university to consider a stern warning or other corrective measures instead of expulsion.
Madonna University, established as the first private Catholic university in West Africa, has campuses in Elele, Rivers State; Okija, Anambra State; and Akpugo, Enugu State.
When contacted, the university’s Director of Communications and Public Affairs, 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.