Authorities of Madonna University have reportedly expelled some nursing students of the institution following a viral video in which they were seen jokingly declaring “No sick o, na Gen Z full hospital,” a development that has generated heated reactions across social media platforms.
In the video that has since circulated widely on TikTok, Instagram and X, the students, who were dressed in their nursing uniforms and were apparently on clinical duty, could be heard making playful remarks while filming themselves inside what appeared to be a hospital ward.
The phrase “No sick o, na Gen Z full hospital” was used by the students in a light-hearted manner to suggest that there were no patients in the ward and that it was only members of the Gen Z generation, referring to themselves, that were present, a comment that many viewers found amusing but which the university management reportedly considered unprofessional and unethical.
Sources within the university disclosed that the management viewed the act as a serious breach of the institution’s code of conduct for nursing students, particularly as it relates to professional ethics, patient confidentiality and the sanctity of the hospital environment where such videos are not expected to be recorded.
Following an internal disciplinary process, the affected students were said to have been expelled from the university, a punishment that many Nigerians have described as too harsh and disproportionate to the offence committed, considering that the students were only catching fun and did not show any patient in the video.
The reported expulsion has since sparked a major debate online, with Nigerians divided over whether the university was right to have taken such a drastic step or whether it should have opted for a milder punishment such as suspension, community service or a written apology.
While some people argued that nursing is a noble and sensitive profession that demands a high level of discipline, maturity and professionalism, and that the students should have known better than to trivialise hospital duties on social media, others maintained that expulsion is an excessive punishment for what was essentially a harmless joke.
According to those who defended the students, Gen Z youths are known for their expressive nature and love for social media trends, and that while they may have acted childishly, the university should have used the opportunity to educate and correct them rather than throwing away years of academic investment and dreams.
The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has already waded into the matter, appealing to the management of Madonna University to temper justice with mercy and to reconsider its decision to expel the students, in the interest of their future and academic careers.
In a statement issued by its leadership, NANS noted that although it does not condone misconduct or indiscipline in any institution, it believes that every erring student deserves a second chance, especially when the offence does not involve examination malpractice, cultism, sexual harassment or other grave misconduct.
The student body pleaded with the university authorities to recall the expelled nursing students and instead impose alternative disciplinary measures that will reform them and serve as a deterrent to others, without destroying their educational aspirations and the huge financial sacrifices made by their parents.
NANS also called on students across the country, particularly those in professional courses like Nursing, Medicine, Law and Engineering, to be more mindful of their conduct on social media, stressing that every post, no matter how playful, has implications for their personal integrity and the image of their institutions.
Meanwhile, parents and guardians of the affected students have also reportedly been making frantic efforts to appeal to the university management to have a change of heart, with some expressing shock that a moment of social media fun could lead to the abrupt end of their children’s nursing careers at Madonna University.
Madonna University, which is a private Catholic-owned institution located in Elele, Rivers State, is known for its strict moral and academic standards and has over the years maintained a zero-tolerance policy for actions it considers to be inconsistent with its core values and professional training ethos.
As at the time of filing this report, the university management has not issued an official public statement detailing the number of students affected and the exact reasons for the expulsion, but sources indicate that the decision was taken after careful consideration by the school’s disciplinary committee.
The incident has once again brought to the fore the growing tension between Gen Z social media culture and traditional institutional discipline in Nigerian universities, with many calling for a balanced approach that will allow students to express themselves creatively without undermining professionalism and institutional integrity.
