Gladness Gideon
Renowned Nigerian chess champion and founder of Chess in Slums Africa, Tunde Onakoya, met with President Bola Tinubu on Monday night to present his Guinness World Record certificate for the longest chess marathon ever played.
The meeting was disclosed via a post on the President’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle, where Tinubu praised Onakoya for his groundbreaking work with underprivileged children and his use of chess to promote education and personal development in underserved communities.
“Tunde’s journey, from the streets of Lagos to uplifting underserved children and breaking world records, reflects the resilience and brilliance of Nigeria’s youth,” Tinubu wrote.
Onakoya, alongside U.S. chess player Shawn Martinez, set the new world record by playing chess continuously for 64 hours in New York City, surpassing the previous mark of 60 hours — a record he had initially set before it was broken by a Norwegian pair in 2024.
President Tinubu lauded the global recognition and expressed interest in expanding Onakoya’s initiative across Nigeria.
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“I would love to see how his work can be replicated nationwide and I am looking forward to seeing him in Abuja to hear how the government can support him,” Tinubu stated.
“Tunde Onakoya’s vision aligns with our administration’s: no child left behind, no talent wasted. Nigeria is proud of him, and we will walk with him.”
Through Chess in Slums Africa, Onakoya has used the game as a tool for empowerment, literacy, and social change — bringing education and hope to vulnerable children in communities often neglected by formal systems.
His meeting with the president signals possible future collaboration aimed at nationalising the impact of chess-based learning as part of youth development and educational outreach.