Madonna University, Elele, Rivers State, is set to break its silence on Monday over the controversial disciplinary action taken against nursing students who featured in a viral “Gen Z nurses” dance video.
The university has reportedly expelled a 500-level nursing student identified as Mercy and suspended 14 other final-year students after the video, recorded within the university premises, went viral on social media.
But with the sanctions generating heated reactions, the institution is now expected to explain its position and the circumstances surrounding the disciplinary measures.
The university’s Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Chima Achu, was reported to have confirmed that an official statement would be issued on Monday.
Achu was quoted as saying that the university would officially respond to the controversy and that its position would be made public on Monday.
The controversy erupted after a video showing nursing students dancing at different locations, including a hospital waiting area, staircase and a bus, circulated widely online.
Mercy, who reportedly appeared in the opening moments of the clip dancing in a hospital corridor, was said to have received an expulsion letter during the week.
The video was reportedly part of the social media trend known as the “Gen Z nurses” challenge, involving healthcare workers and nursing students dancing in clinical environments.
The clip carried a Pidgin caption which read, “No fall sick o, na Gen Z full hospital now.”
The video was reportedly uploaded in August before gaining wider attention after being reposted by social media platforms in September.
A shorter version posted by Yabaleftonline on September 1 reportedly attracted more than 1.7 million views on X, turning what began as a social media trend into a major controversy.
The development attracted the attention of medical content creator Nurse Girma, who reportedly appealed to Madonna University to reconsider the punishment.
Girma said information reaching him indicated that the university Senate had approved the expulsion of the student behind the account and suspended other students involved in the video.
He was also said to have appealed to the university to temper discipline with mercy, particularly because the affected students were reportedly in their final year.
The reported sanctions have since divided public opinion.
Some Nigerians have backed the university, arguing that nursing students are expected to maintain professional standards and should not engage in conduct that could undermine the image of the healthcare profession.
Others, however, have described the punishment as excessive, arguing that the students had already spent years and significant resources pursuing their nursing degrees.
The National Executive Council of the Nigerian Universities Nursing Students’ Association has reportedly entered discussions with relevant authorities over the matter and is seeking a review of the sanctions.
The National Association of Nigerian Students has also appealed to the university to reconsider the reported expulsion, arguing that removing students at the final stage of their studies could have serious consequences for their academic and professional futures.
NANS reportedly urged the university to replace the expulsion with a stern warning, saying the students should be given an opportunity to learn from their actions and continue their education.
The university’s Monday statement is therefore being keenly awaited.
It is expected to clarify the circumstances surrounding the video, the students’ alleged offences and the reasons behind the sanctions.
Until the institution formally states its position, the controversy continues to generate debate over where the line should be drawn between student discipline, professional conduct and social media expression.
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