President Bola Tinubu has thrown his support behind the Chess in Slums Africa initiative, hailing it as a model of grassroots innovation that complements his administration’s broader goals for youth development and educational access.
The endorsement came during a private meeting in Ikoyi, Lagos, where the President received Tunde Onakoya, the project’s founder and recent Guinness World Record holder for the longest marathon chess session.
Praising Onakoya’s rise from modest beginnings to global acclaim, President Tinubu described his efforts as “a clear example of how untapped talent in overlooked communities can be nurtured into global excellence.”
He emphasized the administration’s commitment to ensuring that no talent is ignored, noting that the government is ready to collaborate with Onakoya to replicate the initiative nationwide.
“I am eager to see how this can be scaled across the country,” the President said. “We are ready to work with you. Your story is an inspiration, and Nigeria stands with you.”
The initiative, already active in underserved areas such as Makoko, Majidun, and Oshodi in Lagos, uses chess to foster cognitive skills, discipline, and confidence among children. It has gained recognition both locally and internationally for its ability to empower disadvantaged youth through a non-traditional educational path.
Onakoya, known for using chess as a vehicle for social impact, explained that the initiative aims to connect education and opportunity in communities often left out of mainstream development plans. His recent achievement—breaking the world record for a continuous chess match—has only elevated the visibility of the project.
President Tinubu’s endorsement, which aligns with his Renewed Hope Agenda focused on inclusion and empowerment, is expected to boost the reach of Chess in Slums Africa and attract broader institutional backing.
Observers see this development as a positive step toward incorporating citizen-led solutions into national policy discussions on youth development, education, and poverty reduction.
