The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) have advised the expelled and suspended nursing students of the Madonna University to challenge the decision of the institution in court.
The management of the university had last Friday expelled one of the nursing students identified as Mercy and suspended 14 others, all from the Elele Campus in Rivers State, for participating in a video challenge that went viral on social media.
The students, all females had recorded a dance routine in a hospital waiting area, staircase, and bus during a clinical posting, captioned “No Sick oo, Na Gen Z Full Hospital.”
Speaking in an interview with LEADERSHIP in Port Harcourt, chairman of NBA, Oyigbo Branch, Higher King, said the videos by the nursing students was not offensive and did not in any way ridicule the university.
King stated that rather, the students promoted the institution on the social media and should be paid good money for the service.
He said, “Let me say this, I have seen this 19 minutes video of Madonna University nursing students. But, I think that video is actually promoting the university. This is actually promoting the university. I didn’t see anything offending in that video.
“I didn’t see anything ridiculing and I didn’t see anything condemning the university. It means if you come to Madonna University Teaching Hospital, you will not be sick; that is a full Gen-Z hospital, full youth hospital, full hospital where you as an old man can be made to be youth again. You can be revived, you can be renewed; your youth can be renewed again even if you come there as an old man. So, that is what I am seeing.
“So, on the issue of suspension or expelling one of them, I think, it doesn’t come to play. I am not seeing them do anything that is against the university. They didn’t steal, they didn’t condemn the university.
“Rather, they are saying that the teaching hospital is a Gen-Z full hospital. That should be promoting the hospital; they should be paid for it., not to be punished. I see no reason why somebody should be expelled or suspended for this video. I don’t see anything offensive or anything wrong with that video at all.
“They should sue the university; the university must pay them. That is an advert and the students should be paid good money because this video will generate money. They should be paid and not villified.”
Also speaking with LEADERSHIP in Port Harcourt, CLO south-south zonal chairman, Karl Chinedu Uchegbu, said the action of the university management was manifestation of an administration that has lost touch with the global internet culture.
Uchegbu stated that the 15 nursing students acted within their rights to free speech, assembly and association.
“The action of Madona University in expelling the nursing students for posting a video that went viral is a manifestation of a university administration that has lost touch with the global internet culture which encourage’s expressiveness.
“A careful review of the said videos does not reveal any indecent dressing, lewd language or disparaging of the academic institution.
“The videos were a response to a dance challenge , which has become a part of the global Gen-Z culture.
“In responding to the dance challenge, the 15 Nursing students acted within their rights to free speech, assembly and association.
“Their expulsion represents yet another example of the typical Nigerian reaction to the expressive culture associated with youth. It must be reversed. I also expect the expelled students to challenge it in court.”