Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on Monday temporarily stepped aside from his official duties to allow a 14-year-old student, Miss Esther Etiyemonu, to serve as One-Day Governor.
Miss Etiyemonu, a Senior Secondary School II (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 held among eligible public secondary schools across the state.
She was received at the Lagos State House, Marina, by Governor Sanwo-Olu alongside her two “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 assumed the role of One-Day Secretary to the State Government. The students were accompanied by their parents and teachers.
As the 21st edition champion of the competition, Miss Etiyemonu presided over a brief State Executive Council meeting, reinforcing the vision behind the Spelling Bee initiative originally introduced by former Lagos First Lady and current First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Describing the project as a “worthy education legacy,” the One-Day Governor said the initiative continues to promote academic excellence and leadership development among students in Lagos public schools.
She also took the opportunity to commend Governor Sanwo-Olu for what she described as “remarkable transformation” across key sectors in the state.
“In education, Governor Sanwo-Olu’s achievements are highly commendable,” she said, citing reforms such as teacher recruitment, establishment of technical colleges, digital skills training, upgrades of tertiary institutions, staff housing development, and renovation of public school libraries.
On infrastructure, she praised road reconstruction projects, including the Gberigbe axis in Ikorodu, as well as the Lagos Rail Mass Transit Red and Blue Lines, noting that these initiatives have significantly improved mobility. She also acknowledged the administration’s security efforts, which she said have enhanced safety and stability across the state.
In his response, Governor Sanwo-Olu said Miss Etiyemonu’s emergence as One-Day Governor further justified his administration’s sustained investment in education, particularly in state-owned model colleges.
“You are a testament to the quality of education we are providing in our public schools,” the governor said. “You are an embodiment of excellence and the standard of students coming out of our schools.”
He noted that the state has recorded consistent improvements in external examinations such as WASSCE and NECO, attributing the progress to enhanced infrastructure, improved learning environments, and better welfare packages for teachers.
“Your success challenges us to do more,” Sanwo-Olu added, pledging continued support in areas such as healthcare access, road infrastructure to schools, maintenance of facilities, and provision of modern learning tools.
The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sustaining the Spelling Bee Competition, describing it as a lasting legacy of the First Lady of Nigeria and a powerful platform for nurturing future leaders in Lagos State.