Delta State College of Nursing has issued a formal query to student nurse Osato Edobor for her involvement in a viral video where nursing students rejected Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, as “our mother” during her visit to Asaba. The incident occurred on March 25, 2025, during the First Lady’s Renewed Hope Initiative Health Programme at the Dome Event Center.
The video, shared on TikTok, captured students singing a dissenting tune as Mrs. Tinubu arrived. The college accused Edobor of recording and circulating the footage, labeling it a “malicious act.” The provost, Evbodaghe Rita Ogonne, stated that Edobor’s actions violated disciplinary rules outlined in the Student Handbook and demanded her response within 24 hours.
The First Lady’s visit was part of her initiative to distribute 10,000 professional kits to midwives across Nigeria’s South-South zone. Despite initial enthusiasm from attendees, some nurses expressed disappointment over unmet expectations regarding the distribution of kits.
Delta State Commissioner for Works and Public Information, Charles Aniagwu, clarified that the reaction was misrepresented online. He emphasized that the First Lady had apologized to nurses for prioritizing midwives in this phase of donations and assured them their turn would come.
Aniagwu dismissed claims of hostility during the visit and praised Mrs. Tinubu’s contributions to healthcare development. “This reaction was taken out of context by certain individuals on social media,” he said during a press conference.
The college’s disciplinary action against Edobor has sparked debate online, with critics questioning the severity of the response and broader implications for freedom of expression among students.
