The Office of the First Lady of Nigeria has called for fairness and understanding in the handling of a disciplinary issue involving nursing students in Delta State who were reportedly queried for singing a welcome chant during a recent official visit.
A viral video circulating on social media captured a group of student nurses at the Dome Event Centre in Asaba enthusiastically chanting as they welcomed the first lady, Senator Remi Tinubu, and the first lady of Delta State, Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori, during the South-South zonal launch of the Renewed Hope Initiative’s Midwives Support Programme.
While the chants appeared spontaneous and light-hearted, reports emerged that some students from the Delta State College of Nursing Sciences were subsequently issued queries by the institution’s management for their conduct at the event.
Reacting to the development, the first lady’s office in a press statement urged the college’s authorities to handle the matter with “understanding and fairness.”
“The Office of the First Lady of Nigeria respects the right of institutions to uphold discipline,” the statement signed by Busola Kukoyi, Senior Special Assistant on Media to the First Lady, read in part. “However, it is important to recognize that students, in moments of excitement, often express themselves in a light-hearted and jovial manner.”
The event, which featured the donation of 10,000 professional kits to midwives in the South-South region, was aimed at boosting morale in the health sector and reducing infant and maternal mortality nationwide.
Mrs. Tinubu, who appreciated the “warm reception” by the Delta State Government, commended the energy and enthusiasm of the students, nurses, and women’s groups present, describing the event as “a positive and motivating experience.”
She emphasized the importance of creating an educational environment that fosters both discipline and freedom of expression.
“Educational institutions should be places where students feel safe to express themselves while maintaining decorum,” the statement added.
