14-Year-Old Spelling Bee Champion Takes Over as One-Day Lagos Governor

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Monday temporarily vacated his seat as a 14-year-old student, Miss Esther Etiyemonu, assumed office as One-Day Governor at the State House in Marina.

Etiyemonu, an SSS II pupil of Lagos State Senior Model College, Igbookuta, Imota in Ikorodu Division, earned the honour after emerging overall winner of the 2025/2026 Spelling Bee Competition organised for public secondary schools across the state.

She was received by the governor alongside her two-member “cabinet,” comprising One-Day Deputy Governor, Miss Dorcas Awoyemi of Ikosi Senior High School, and One-Day Secretary to the State Government, Miss Salami Jumain Olaide of Angus Memorial Senior High School, Yaba. The students were accompanied by their parents and teachers during the symbolic handover ceremony.

As winner of the 21st edition of the competition, Etiyemonu presided over a brief State Executive Council meeting and described the Spelling Bee initiative as a valuable educational legacy that continues to promote academic excellence and leadership among students in Lagos public schools. She noted that the programme was pioneered by former Lagos First Lady and current First Lady of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu.

The One-Day Governor also commended Sanwo-Olu’s administration for what she called notable development across key sectors, particularly in education. She highlighted reforms such as teacher recruitment, the establishment of technical colleges, digital skills training, renovation of public school libraries, staff housing development and upgrades to tertiary institutions as evidence of progress in the state’s education system.

Beyond education, Etiyemonu praised improvements in transportation, referencing ongoing road reconstruction along the Gberigbe axis leading to Ikorodu as well as the Lagos Rail Mass Transit Red and Blue Lines, which she said have enhanced mobility and efficiency. She added that the state’s security initiatives have contributed to improved safety and stability.

In his remarks, Sanwo-Olu said the emergence of a One-Day Governor from Lagos State Senior Model College underscored the impact of his administration’s sustained investment in education, noting that the school has benefitted from several government interventions.

“You are a testament to the quality of education we are providing in our public schools. You embody excellence and the calibre of students emerging from our public institutions,” the governor said.

He further stated that improved performance in external examinations such as WASSCE and NECO validates the government’s efforts in upgrading learning environments, enhancing school infrastructure and improving teachers’ welfare.

Sanwo-Olu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting public schools through better healthcare services, improved access roads, maintenance of facilities and the provision of modern learning tools, while also assuring that school environments would be protected from disruptions.

He described the Spelling Bee Competition as a lasting educational legacy for Lagos State and pledged continued government support to sustain the initiative.