Nigerian chess champion Tunde Onakoya, founder of Chess in Slums Africa, met President Bola Tinubu on June 9, 2025, at his Lagos residence, marking a pivotal moment for chess and education in Nigeria.
Onakoya, who holds the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon after playing for over 60 hours in New York’s Times Square, presented Tinubu with a gold-plated Adire chessboard and his world record certificate.
The meeting, widely shared on social media, highlighted Onakoya’s transformative work empowering underserved children through chess.
Tinubu praised Onakoya’s journey from Lagos slums to global acclaim, noting his resilience as a symbol of Nigerian youth potential.
The President expressed eagerness to support Onakoya’s vision of building the world’s largest Chess and STEM institute, a hub where children from all backgrounds can learn and dream. “Tunde’s work aligns with our no-child-left-behind initiative,” Tinubu tweeted, pledging collaboration to scale Chess in Slums Africa nationwide.
Onakoya, who learned chess at a barber’s shop in Ikorodu, emphasized that “great things can come from small places.” His initiative has already impacted thousands in slums like Makoko and Oshodi, using chess to foster education and opportunity.
Tinubu invited Onakoya to Abuja to discuss further government support, signaling a commitment to youth empowerment.