Nigerian Chess Champion, Tunde Onakoya, has offered a scholarship to the little girl whose mum was chided by activist, Adetoun, on Monday, March 31.
In a video shared online, Detoun criticised the mum for bringing the 11-year-old to a place where she sweeps to make a living. According to Adetoun, child labour should never be tolerated.
Her video received serious backlash from Nigerians who condemned her saying she humiliated the mother in front of her child. Some argued that they saw nothing wrong in the little girl helping her mother out. Adetoun has since apologised to the woman.
Reacting to the trending video, Onakoya via his X handle, condemned Adetoun for criticising the woman and filming and posting the video online. He went ahead to offer the girl a scholarship up to her University level.
‘’Extremely cruel to humiliate a mother in front of her daughter like this. Even worse that this was recorded and posted on social media.
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My mother used to sweep people’s houses and gutters in 2016. It hurt too much that I could do nothing financially to stop her. I often insisted on going with her, just to help fetch the water she needed so we could finish quicker and get back home before daylight. I didn’t want anyone to see us. The poverty that pushes one to hide their labour in the dark is a painful one.
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.
If no one has done this already, I would like to take full responsibility for the girl’s education through university. I hope this eases their burden in some way. These are incredibly hard times.
Our Privilege blinds us in ways we’ll never truly understand.”
