Madonna University expels final-year nursing student, suspends 14 over dance video

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has appealed to the management of Madonna University to reconsider the expulsion of a final-year nursing student and the suspension of 14 others over a viral dance video recorded within a hospital environment.

The controversy began after a video showing a group of nursing students dancing at different locations at Madonna University’s Elele campus in Rivers State surfaced online and attracted widespread attention.

The footage showed the students dancing in areas including a hospital waiting area, staircase and a university bus. It was reportedly linked to a social media trend involving young nurses and students.

The video generated criticism because some of the scenes were filmed within a healthcare environment, where students undergoing professional training are expected to observe standards relating to professional conduct, discipline and patient care.

Following the controversy, Madonna University took disciplinary action against the students involved. One final-year nursing student was expelled, while 14 others were suspended.

Madonna University expels final-year nursing student, suspends 14 over dance video

The university’s Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Chima Achu, confirmed that disciplinary measures had been imposed and indicated that the institution would provide further details on the matter.

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The sanctions have, however, attracted criticism from student groups, with NANS urging the university to reconsider the expulsion.

NANS National President, Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, appealed to the university to “temper justice with mercy”, arguing that the affected students had spent several years pursuing their education and professional training.

He called for the expelled student’s punishment to be reviewed and suggested that a stern warning, undertaking or other corrective disciplinary measure could be considered instead.

According to NANS, disciplinary action should correct inappropriate behaviour while giving students an opportunity to learn from their mistakes, rather than permanently ending their education where a less severe sanction may be appropriate.

The Nigerian Universities Nursing Students’ Association (NUNSA) has also reportedly intervened in the matter and is engaging relevant stakeholders over the sanctions imposed on the students.

The controversy has generated divided reactions. While some Nigerians have backed the university’s decision, arguing that students preparing for careers in healthcare must maintain high standards of professionalism, others have questioned whether expulsion was a proportionate response to the incident.

The case has also revived concerns about social media conduct among students, particularly when videos are recorded inside hospitals, clinics and other professional environments.

For healthcare students, such concerns extend beyond ordinary campus rules because their training involves responsibilities relating to patient privacy, dignity, safety and public trust.

At the same time, the NANS intervention has brought renewed attention to the question of whether university disciplinary measures should place greater emphasis on rehabilitation and corrective education.

The university has not indicated that the students were involved in any harm to patients, and the available reports do not establish such a claim.

The focus of the disciplinary action is the conduct displayed in the video and the circumstances in which it was recorded.

Madonna University is expected to provide further clarification on the disciplinary process, the specific regulations breached and the possibility, if any, of reviewing the sanctions.

Until then, the expulsion of the final-year student and suspension of the other 14 students remain the subject of an ongoing appeal by student representatives.

Madonna University expels final-year nursing student, suspends 14 over dance video

10 Things to Know About Amos Dangut, Nigerian Appointed WAEC Registrar

Dr Amos Josiah Dangut has assumed office as the new Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), becoming the 14th person to occupy the position.

The Nigerian education administrator took over from Alhaji Pateh Bah of The Gambia and will serve a five-year tenure running from October 2026 to September 2031.

Dangut previously served as Head of WAEC’s Nigeria National Office, where he was involved in examination administration and the council’s transition towards greater use of digital technology.

Here are 10 things to know about the new WAEC Registrar.

1. He is from Plateau State

Dangut was born on October 2, 1967, in Mbar District of Bokkos Local Government Area, Plateau State.

He attended Government Secondary School, Riyom, between 1981 and 1983 before proceeding to Government Science School, Kuru, where he studied from 1983 to 1986 and obtained his WASC/SC.

2. His first degree was in Agriculture

Dangut obtained a Bachelor of Agriculture in Animal Production from the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State, in 1991.

His academic training initially centred on agriculture and animal science before his professional career moved into teaching, examination administration and educational management.

3. He has three postgraduate qualifications

Dangut continued his education after his first degree, obtaining an MSc in Animal Science from the University of Ibadan in 1994.

He later earned a PhD in Animal Science from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, in 2017 and a Master of Education in Administration and Planning from the National Open University of Nigeria in 2020.

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4. His career started in teaching

Dangut began his professional career in education after his NYSC programme in 1991/1992.

He worked at St Louis College, Jos, and had earlier received recognition during his NYSC service for innovative teaching and efforts to improve farmers’ productivity.

He received Meritorious Service Awards from the Ondo State Government and Akoko South-West Local Government.

5. He joined WAEC in 1998

Dangut joined the West African Examinations Council in 1998 as an Assistant Registrar II.

He rose through the ranks and became a Deputy Registrar in April 2018, building a career at WAEC that has lasted nearly three decades.

6. He has held several positions within WAEC

His career at WAEC has taken him through various departments and offices.

He served as an Assistant Registrar and Subject Officer in the Test Development Division in Lagos between 1998 and 2005. He later worked in Uyo and Bauchi, where he was involved in examination security and served as Deputy to the Branch Controller.

He subsequently became Branch Controller in Yola, Deputy Registrar/Controller of the Post Examinations Department and Deputy Registrar/Zonal Coordinator at the Ikeja Zonal Office.

7. He received commendation for transparent examination conduct

Dangut received a commendation from the Nigeria Examinations Committee for the transparent conduct of examinations between 2000 and 2006.

His early responsibilities included test development and examination security, areas that became important parts of his subsequent career at the council.

8. He headed WAEC Nigeria from 2023 to 2026

Dangut became Head of the Nigeria National Office of WAEC on October 2, 2023, succeeding Patrick Areghan.

He remained in the position until his elevation to the regional leadership of WAEC in October 2026.

During his tenure, WAEC expanded its use of technology in examination administration. The council introduced innovations including Computer-Based WASSCE, serialisation of question papers and a Digital Electronic Marking System.

9. He played a role in WAEC’s digital transformation

Information and Communications Technology became a significant part of Dangut’s work at WAEC.

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The council said he leveraged ICT to improve test development, test administration and post-examination activities.

Under his leadership at the Nigeria National Office, WAEC also operated digital services including the Digital Certificate Portal, WAEC E-Study Platform and Digital Records Archive, alongside digital systems for examination logistics and monitoring examiners.

The transition to computer-based examinations has become particularly significant for WAEC’s Nigerian operations, with the council conducting Computer-Based WASSCE for school candidates in 2026.

10. He now leads WAEC at regional level

Dangut assumed office as the 14th WAEC Registrar and CEO on October 1, 2026.

His five-year tenure will run until September 2031, following the ratification of his appointment by WAEC’s international governing board at its 74th Annual Meeting in Accra, Ghana, in March 2026.

As Registrar and CEO, Dangut moves from heading WAEC’s Nigerian operations to overseeing the council at its international headquarters in Accra.

Beyond his WAEC career, he has served on the boards of organisations including the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), Joint Universities Preliminary Examinations Board (JUPEB) and Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

He has also represented WAEC at education policy platforms including the Joint Consultative Committee on Education and the National Council on Education.

Dangut has published academic works in national and international journals and presented papers at professional conferences. He is a member of the Science Teachers Association of Nigeria (STAN) and the Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM) and serves as the West African sub-region’s representative on the Executive Board of the Association for Educational Assessment in Africa.

Outside his professional work, his listed interests include swimming, tennis and farming.

10 Things to Know About Amos Dangut, Nigerian Appointed WAEC Registrar

FG Orders National Ranking of Nigerian Tertiary Institutions on 22 Indicators

The Federal Government has commenced a 2026 national ranking of Nigerian tertiary institutions, with Education Minister Tunji Alausa directing the Nigerian Tertiary Education Ranking Advisory Committee (NiTERAC), chaired by Professor Peter Okebukola, to assess universities, polytechnics and colleges of education across the country.

Okebukola disclosed the development in a presentation on Nigeria’s performance in the 2027 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, saying the three subsector rankings are expected to be completed by December 15, 2026.

Under the framework, Nigerian universities will be assessed using 22 indicators, with the weightings agreed with the League of Directors of Academic Planning.

The exercise is intended to establish a national benchmark for measuring institutional performance, identifying areas that need improvement and encouraging healthy competition among public and private tertiary institutions.

According to Okebukola, the initiative is also aimed at positioning Nigeria’s tertiary education system for stronger performance in international rankings.

The expansion of the exercise beyond universities means that polytechnics and colleges of education will also be covered under the 2026 assessment. This will provide a broader national picture of performance across the major categories of tertiary education.

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The development comes against the backdrop of Nigeria’s improved representation in the latest Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

A total of 29 Nigerian universities featured in the 2027 global ranking, compared with 24 in the previous edition, giving Nigeria the highest number of ranked institutions in sub-Saharan Africa.

The University of Ibadan, University of Lagos and Covenant University were placed in the global 801–1,000 band, while Ahmadu Bello University, Bayero University, Landmark University and the University of Ilorin were placed in the 1,001–1,200 category.

Another 32 Nigerian universities were listed in the Reporter category. Reporter status applies to institutions that submitted data but did not meet one or more requirements for inclusion in the ranked tables.

Okebukola’s assessment noted that only 29 of the 328 universities listed by the National Universities Commission (NUC) appeared in the ranked category.

It also identified areas including research funding, publication output, institutional data management and international collaboration as requiring sustained attention across the sector. Differences in teaching, research quality, industry engagement and international outlook were also highlighted.

The national ranking is expected to give institutions a domestic framework for assessing their performance and identifying gaps, while providing policymakers with data that can support decisions on tertiary education development.

The committee is expected to undertake data collection and validation before finalising the rankings for the three subsectors ahead of the December 15 deadline.

The outcome will provide a new national reference point for assessing Nigerian universities, polytechnics and colleges of education and tracking their performance over time.

FG Orders National Ranking of Nigerian Tertiary Institutions on 22 Indicators