Tunde Onakoya Offers to Sponsor Education of 11-year-old Girl Who Followed Her Mother to Sweep (Video)

 Nigerian chess master and education advocate Tunde Onakoya has pledged to sponsor the education of an 11-year-old girl who was seen accompanying her mother during her street-sweeping job in Ikoyi, Lagos. This commitment follows the circulation of a viral video that sparked widespread discussions on social media.

In the video, activist Adetoun Onojobi confronted the mother for bringing her daughter along to assist with her work, accusing her of child labor. The public nature of the confrontation and the subsequent sharing of the video online led to debates about poverty, dignity, and societal responsibilities.

Reacting to the incident, Onakoya expressed empathy towards the mother and daughter, drawing parallels to his own childhood experiences. He recounted how his mother engaged in similar menial jobs to support their family and the emotional impact it had on him. He emphasized the need for compassion over criticism in such situations.

Demonstrating his commitment to making a tangible difference, Onakoya offered to take full responsibility for the young girl's education through university. He stated, "If no one has done this already, I would like to take full responsibility for the girl’s education through university. I hope this eases their burden in some way."

This gesture has been widely praised, with many highlighting the importance of community support in addressing systemic issues related to poverty and access to education. Onakoya's actions serve as a poignant reminder of the impact individual acts of kindness can have on transforming lives.