By Ghazali Ibrahim
Five years after halting his convoy to intervene in the lives of two young girls found hawking during school hours, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has fulfilled his promise to sponsor their education, bringing their story full circle in an emotional public moment.
The governor presented the now-older girls, Amarachi Chinedu and Suwebat Husseini, at a public gathering in Lagos, confirming that the scholarship he pledged in 2022 had been sustained over the years.
The development was captured in a video obtained by BlackBox Nigeria, showing the girls alongside the governor as he highlighted their academic progress.
Sanwo-Olu had first encountered the girls at Anthony Village after stopping his convoy upon seeing them running errands instead of being in school.
Moved by their situation as one being forced out of school due to inability to pay fees, running errands to grind pepper for their mother, the governor had immediately promised to take full responsibility for their education.
At a recent event, the governor reiterated his commitment to child welfare and education, noting that the intervention was aimed at giving the girls a fair chance at life and protecting them from the long-term consequences of missing out on schooling.
He reiterated that despite the fact that he was insulted on social media, he turned deafening ear to them and go ahead with his commitment.
The reappearance of Amarachi and Suwebat, now beneficiaries of sustained educational support, has drawn attention on social media, with many describing it as a rare instance of a public official keeping a long-term promise.
Their story has also reignited conversations around child labour, access to education, and the responsibility of government and parents in safeguarding the future of children in Nigeria.
