Sanwo-Olu steps aside as 14-year-old student becomes one-day Lagos Governor

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Monday, symbolically handed over the reins of government for a day to a 14-year-old student, Miss Esther Etiyemonu, the overall winner of the 2025/2026 Lagos State Spelling Bee Competition.

Etiyemonu, an SSS II student of Lagos State Senior Model College, Igbookuta, Imota, in the Ikorodu Division, clinched the top prize at the 21st edition of the annual contest, which featured eligible public secondary schools across the state.

The ceremonial transition took place at the State House, Marina, where the One-Day Governor was formally received by Sanwo-Olu, alongside members of her symbolic cabinet.

They included Miss Dorcas Awoyemi of Ikosi Senior High School, who served as One-Day Deputy Governor, and Miss Salami Jumain Olaide of Angus Memorial Senior High School, Yaba, who assumed the role of One-Day Secretary to the State Government.

The students were accompanied by their parents and teachers.

While presiding over a brief session of the State Executive Council, Etiyemonu described the Spelling Bee initiative as a valuable educational legacy introduced by former Lagos First Lady and current First Lady of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu.

She noted that the programme has continued to nurture academic excellence, confidence and leadership among students in public schools.

She also commended the Sanwo-Olu administration for what she described as notable achievements across key sectors, particularly education.

According to her, recent gains include the recruitment of teachers, establishment of technical colleges, expansion of digital skills training, upgrades of tertiary institutions, staff housing projects and the rehabilitation of public secondary school libraries.

Etiyemonu also highlighted improvements in transportation infrastructure, referencing ongoing road reconstruction projects and the Lagos Rail Mass Transit Red and Blue Lines, as well as enhanced security initiatives across the state.

In his remarks, Sanwo-Olu said Etiyemonu’s success emphasised the impact of sustained government investment in public education, especially within the state’s model colleges.

“You represent the quality of education being delivered in our public schools. You are a clear example of the excellence we aim to produce and the standard of students emerging from our system,” the governor said.

He added that improved outcomes in external examinations such as WASSCE and NECO reflect deliberate interventions in infrastructure development, teacher welfare and the overall learning environment.

The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to education, pledging continued investment in school facilities, healthcare access, road infrastructure linking schools, modern learning tools and improved security around educational institutions.

Sanwo-Olu also assured that the Lagos State Spelling Bee Competition would be sustained, describing it as a long-standing initiative that continues to inspire academic excellence and leadership among young people in the state.