‘Na your mama’: First Lady urges fairness in handling Delta Nursing students’ query
The Office of the First Lady has called for fairness and understanding in handling the queries reportedly issued to some students of the Delta State College of Nursing Sciences over their participation in chants during the First Lady’s visit to Delta State.
A video that surfaced on social media showed students enthusiastically chanting during the donation of 10,000 professional kits to midwives in the South-south zone.
The event, which took place at the Dome Event Centre, Asaba, on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, was aimed at motivating midwives and reducing infant and maternal mortality rates in Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Friday by the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the First Lady, Busola Kukoyi, the presidency acknowledged the warm reception given to the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, by the Delta State Government, healthcare professionals, and student nurses present at the event.
However, the statement addressed concerns regarding the viral video, which captured a section of students playfully altering the welcome song.
Reports later emerged that some students of the Delta State College of Nursing Sciences had been queried for their involvement in the chants.
While the Office of the First Lady respects the right of institutions to uphold discipline, Kukoyi noted that students often express themselves in moments of excitement.
“The Office of the First Lady of Nigeria respects the right of institutions to uphold discipline. However, it is important to recognize that students, in moments of excitement, often express themselves in a light-hearted and jovial manner,” the statement read.
Kukoyi further stressed the need for an academic environment that balances discipline with freedom of expression, stating that the First Lady’s visit was intended to encourage healthcare professionals and should remain a positive experience.
“The Office of the First Lady believes that educational institutions should foster an environment where students feel safe to express themselves while maintaining decorum,” she added.
She expressed confidence that the Delta State College of Nursing Sciences would handle the situation with fairness and ensure that students continue to thrive in an atmosphere that allows for both discipline and free expression.
“We trust that the Delta State College of Nursing Sciences will handle this matter with understanding and fairness, ensuring that students continue to thrive in an environment that balances discipline with free expression,” Kukoyi concluded.
The statement has since sparked conversations about student discipline and freedom of expression, with many awaiting the college’s next course of action on the matter.
