Renowned chess master and philanthropist Tunde Onakoya has stepped in to support the daughter of a struggling street sweeper who was recently criticized in a viral video.
The girl, who was seen assisting her mother with sweeping duties at dawn in Ikoyi, will now have her education fully sponsored by Onakoya through university.
The incident first gained public attention when activist and content creator Just Adetoun confronted the mother in a video posted online.
Adetoun condemned her for exposing the child to harsh working conditions and labeled the situation as child labour.
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She further questioned why the woman, who reportedly earns N19,500 monthly from the job, would bring her 11-year-old daughter along instead of leaving her at home.
The video sparked mixed reactions, with some supporting Adetoun’s stance on child protection, while others criticized her approach, arguing that the woman was merely struggling to survive amid tough economic conditions.
In response, Tunde Onakoya shared a tweet, expressing his dismay over the public humiliation of the mother.
He recalled his own experience growing up with a mother who had to sweep streets and gutters to make ends meet.
“It is extremely cruel to humiliate a mother in front of her daughter like this. Even worse that this was recorded and posted on social media,” he wrote.
He empathized with the woman’s plight, stating that poverty forces people into desperate situations.
Onakoya went further to take action, announcing that he would take full responsibility for the girl’s education, ensuring that she is supported all the way through university.
“Yes, that child should not be working. But more than outrage, what she and her mother deserve is compassion. The only humane response is to help,” he added.
Following the backlash, Adetoun later apologized and made amends with the woman.
She visited her home, acknowledging that her approach in handling the situation was insensitive.
In addition to her apology, Adetoun also committed to providing a monthly stipend to support the mother alongside her earnings.
