Delta State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, has addressed the controversy surrounding a nursing student who was issued a query for allegedly refusing to refer to Nigeria’s First Lady, Remi Tinubu, as “our mummy” during her visit to the Delta State College of Nursing Sciences in Agbor. The incident gained widespread attention after reports surfaced that the school had disciplined the student for sharing a video online that reportedly showed students refusing to use the term “mummy” when addressing the First Lady.
The video, which quickly went viral on social media, showed several nursing students in the institution not complying with the request to refer to Remi Tinubu as “our mummy.” As the video gained traction, the student who posted it, Nurse Osato Edobor, was identified and issued a query by the school administration. The query letter, dated March 27, 2025, accused Edobor of violating school regulations by recording and posting an “unauthorized” response to a song played during the First Lady’s arrival at the college.
The letter cited the Student Handbook as the basis for the disciplinary action and demanded that Edobor provide a written explanation within 24 hours. The query sparked a wave of reactions on social media, with many people expressing their opinions about the issue, particularly in light of the student’s alleged violation.
In a swift response to the matter, Dr. Onojaeme intervened and instructed the school’s provost to withdraw the query. The commissioner emphasized that the intent was not to victimize the student. “Regarding the query issued to the nursing student, I have instructed the provost to withdraw the letter. We do not want to victimize any student,” Dr. Onojaeme said, reassuring the public that the situation was being addressed promptly.
Dr. Onojaeme also provided an update on the resolution of the issue, confirming that the student had been contacted and that the query had indeed been withdrawn. “Additionally, we have reached out to the student in question, and she has confirmed that the query has been withdrawn,” he added, offering further clarification and peace of mind to those concerned about the situation.
The health commissioner’s intervention was met with mixed reactions from the public, with many taking to social media to express their views. Some supported the commissioner’s decision to withdraw the query, while others criticized the school for issuing the disciplinary action in the first place.
