Tunde Onakoya Begins Chess Revolution In Northern Nigeria (Video)

Guinness World Record Holder for the longest marathon chess game, Tunde Onakoya, has begun a chess revolution in Northern Nigeria, specifically kicking off from Maiduguri, Brono State.

A viral video posted by the 29-year-old Onakoya on his X account signposted the initiative thus: “Day 1. Borno state, Maiduguri. This is the beginning of the Chess revolution in Northern Nigeria.”

The video showed Onakoya with his excited Maiduguri chess students, predominantly children, surrounded by locals and officials.

Intelligent responses from the Maiduguri students to questions asked by Onakoya about the game of chess showed that they had pre-knowledge of the game.

A number of Nigerians took to his comments to applaud his chess revolution in the North, with other Northern states expressing their anticipation of his visit.

Human rights activists, Aisha Yesufu who reposted the video on her X handle commended the Chess champion for his laudable initiative. She wrote, “You will see intelligence, creativity and innovation.

Well done”

Godiya ga Allah said, “Tunde let me know if you want to go my state in Taraba. I can arrange for accommodation and venue to start from my town specifically, Wukari Taraba state before other places.”

Omar Zarma wrote, “I admire how you’re nurturing the talents of the younger generation. You’ll go far in life, and your impact will be remembered forever.”

@M33natAjib said, “This is amazing You’ll be amazed by how calm and intelligent those kids are. They’re usually separated from the girls please find them. Kano next.”

@Lola_dbabygirl said, “God bless you Egbon Tunde. Please we hope chess in the slum also extends a hand of fellowship to bokkos kids who have witnessed a horrifying displacement from their homes in bokkos, plateau state.”

Watch video below 👇

As the founder and convener of Chess in Slums Africa Onakoya has organized a number of interventions for children across slums in Lagos state including Majidun (Ikorodu), Makoko and Oshod.

Onakoya learned to play chess at a barber’s shop in a slum in Ikorodu, Lagos, where he grew up.

Being unable to pay for his secondary school, his mother offered to work for a school as a cleaner in exchange for his school fees. He would later be ranked as the number 13 chess player in Nigeria.

Onakoya got a diploma in computer science at Yaba College of Technology where he was a gold medalist representing the school in Nigeria Polytechnic Games and also at the RCCG Chess Championship. He has also won the National Friends of Chess and the Chevron Chess Open.

Onakoya was featured in CNN African Voices. Onakoya is a board member of the New York City-based non-profit The Gift of Chess.

On 20 April 2024, Onakoya broke the world chess marathon record in New York, United States. He played for over 60 consecutive hours.

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