Amnesty Condemns Madonna University Over Expulsion Of Nursing Student
By MELVIN KOFFA
AMNESTY International has criticised Madonna University over its expulsion of one final-year nursing student and suspension of 14 others following their participation in a viral social media video.
The controversy arose after 15 nursing undergraduates at the university’s Elele campus in Rivers State featured in a TikTok video inspired by the popular “Gen Z nurses” trend.
The video, filmed inside the institution’s teaching hospital, carried the caption, “No fall sick oo, na Gen Z full hospital.”
However, the university’s disciplinary response has triggered widespread debate about student conduct, academic rights and the proportionality of sanctions imposed on students nearing graduation.
Amnesty International described the punishment as harsh and disproportionate. The rights organisation warned that expelling a student at the final stage of an academic programme could undermine the individual’s right to education and freedom of expression.
Meanwhile, student organisations, including the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and the Nigerian Universities Nursing Students’ Association (NUNSA), have called on the university management to reconsider its decision.
They are urging the institution to recall the affected students and replace the expulsions with formal warnings.
The dispute has raised questions about how universities should balance disciplinary standards, professional responsibility and students’ rights, particularly when social media activity involves a clinical training environment.
