Shock in Lagos as Sanwo-Olu ‘vacates’ governorship seat

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Monday temporarily vacated his seat, handing over the reins of governance for a day to a 14-year-old student, Miss Esther Etiyemonu, winner of the 2025/2026 Lagos State Spelling Bee Competition.

Miss Etiyemonu, a Senior Secondary School II (SSS II) pupil of Lagos State Senior Model College, Igbookuta, Imota in Ikorodu Division, emerged overall champion in the 21st edition of the competition, which was open to eligible public secondary schools across the state.

The symbolic transfer of authority took place at the State House, Marina, where the One-Day Governor was received by Sanwo-Olu alongside her “cabinet” members-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 acted as One-Day Secretary to the State Government. The students were accompanied by their parents and teachers.

Presiding over a brief State Executive Council session, Etiyemonu described the Spelling Bee initiative as a “worthy education legacy” initiated by former Lagos First Lady, now Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu.

She said the competition had continued to promote academic excellence and leadership among students in public schools, while also commending the Sanwo-Olu administration for what she termed significant strides across critical sectors.

“In education, Governor Sanwo-Olu’s achievements are highly commendable,” she said, citing teacher recruitment, establishment of technical colleges, digital skills training, upgrading of tertiary institutions, staff housing development, and renovation of public secondary school libraries.

She also pointed to improvements in transportation infrastructure, including road reconstruction projects and the Lagos Rail Mass Transit Red and Blue Lines, as well as enhanced security measures across the state.

Responding, Sanwo-Olu described the student’s emergence as further validation of his administration’s sustained investment in public education, particularly in state-owned model colleges.

“You are a testament to the quality of education we are providing in our public schools. You are an embodiment of excellence and the calibre of students coming out of our system,” the Governor said.

He noted that improvements in performance in external examinations such as WASSCE and NECO reflected deliberate interventions in infrastructure, teacher welfare and learning environments.

Sanwo-Olu pledged continued support for education, promising sustained investment in school facilities, healthcare access, road infrastructure to schools and modern learning tools, while also ensuring adequate security around educational institutions.

He reiterated his administration’s commitment to sustaining the Spelling Bee initiative, describing it as a lasting legacy that continues to inspire academic excellence among young Lagosians.