A 500-level nursing student expelled by Madonna University, Rivers State, has made an emotional appeal to the institution to give her and other affected students a second chance after they were sanctioned over a viral TikTok video filmed inside the university’s teaching hospital.
CDA News Nigeria reports that, in a video circulating online, the student broke down while describing the years of study and sacrifice involved. She asked how she would explain the situation to her mother, and said she was among a dozen students expelled.
The controversy followed a “Gen Z nurses” challenge showing nursing students dancing in a hospital waiting area, on a staircase and on a bus. CDA News Nigeria gathered that Madonna University confirmed the video was recorded within its teaching hospital and took disciplinary action against the students.
Other reports say one final-year student was expelled and 14 others were suspended for one year. The difference between that and the student’s account of “a dozen” expelled has not been explained by the university.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and the Nigerian Universities Nursing Students’ Association (NUNSA) have appealed to the university to reconsider. NANS President Akinteye Babatunde Afeez acknowledged that the conduct was inappropriate and inconsistent with the standards expected of nursing students, but urged the school to replace the expulsion with a stern warning. Amnesty International has also called the sanctions disproportionate and asked for them to be reversed.
At the time of filing, the university had not announced a review. The student’s identity has not been confirmed by the university, and her account has not been independently verified.
CDA News Nigeria will update this story as more information emerges.
All rights reserved ©2026 CDA News Nigeria. Contact: info@cdanews.ng, www.cdanews.ng, +2348030980314 | 348 Ikwerre Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
