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

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.

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