Chess champion Tunde Onakoya has pledged to sponsor the education of an 11-year-old girl who was seen in a video sweeping alongside her mother.
The video, which went viral on Monday, showed activist Adetoun confronting the girl’s mother, accusing her of child labor exploitation. The footage sparked widespread outrage on social media, with many condemning the act.
Onakoya, however, took a different approach, emphasising the need for empathy and support rather than criticism.
The chess champion, who holds a Guinness World Record for the most simultaneous chess games played, shared a personal story on his X page, revealing that in 2016, he and his mother swept houses and gutters to make ends meet.
He recalled the shame and hardship they endured, stating, “I didn’t want anyone to see us. The poverty that pushes one to hide their labour in the dark is a painful one.”
Acknowledging that no child should have to work at such a young age, Onakoya stressed the importance of offering assistance instead of outrage.
He announced his commitment to fully fund the girl’s education up to university level, aiming to relieve the family of their struggles and provide the child with a brighter future.
