The saying ‘‘Naija no dey carry last’’ is popular among Nigerians and speaks of our true and resilient spirit. Tunde Onakoya is an embodiment of this saying. Tunde Onakoya, a Nigerian chess master, has utilized the chess game to uplift underprivileged communities and champion education. His journey from the slums of Lagos to the world stage is a testament to the transformative potential of the game and the indomitable human spirit.
This blog post will explore Tunde’s life and background, his NGO, how he has turned his life around, and the lives of hundreds of other children in Lagos slums.
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Life and Background of Tunde Onakoya
Tunde Onakoya is a Nigerian national chess master and coach. He is the convener of Chess in Slums Africa. A devoted chess player, he firmly believes that the game of chess can be wielded as an influential educational instrument to positively impact young lives and produce a new generation of intellectuals, even from underprivileged communities.
Born on October 6, 1994, in Lagos, Onakoya’s early years were shaped by poverty. His mother made sacrifices to ensure he had access to education. Onakoya’s dedication and natural aptitude for chess earned him scholarships and accolades. At Yaba College of Technology, he obtained a diploma in computer science. He excelled as a gold medalist, representing the institution at the Nigeria Polytechnic Games and the RCCG Chess Championship.
As of April 2024, Onakoya boasts an impressive FIDE rating of 25863. His standard rating of 2165 and a blitz rating of 2065 place him as the 24th-best player in Nigeria.
Onakoya’s activism and advocacy have amplified his message on prestigious platforms worldwide, including TEDx talks, the Oxford Africa Conference, and the DLD Conference in Germany. His inclusion in the 2023 list of 100 Most Impactful Africans by Ranks Africa is a testament to his profound influence.
Chess in Slums Africa
Onakoya founded Chess in Slums Africa in 2017, a non-profit organization that uses chess as a catalyst for social intervention and education. The organization has reached out to children in various slum communities across Lagos State, including Majidun (Ikorodu), Makoko, and, most recently, Oshodi.
The program combines chess with critical literacy skills, teaching children strategic thinking, problem-solving, and discipline. Chess in Slums Africa also partners with local schools and community centers, providing a haven for children to learn, grow, and dream beyond their circumstances.
Onakoya also contributes to a global effort to distribute one million chess sets to underserved communities by 2030 as a board member of the New York City-based non-profit The Gift of Chess.
The Chess in Slums initiative has provided the world with success stories of slum children who became mega media sensations from just learning chess in their slum environments of Ikorodu, Makoko, and the infamous Oshodi Under-Bridge in Lagos. These stories have been published by international reporting agencies, mainly BBC, Al-Jazeera, Deutsche Welle, AFP, and MSN, and the list is still growing.
Through Tunde Onakoya, whose idea and passion for this drive spawned the emergence of a new strategy for social intervention programs, Chess in Slums is a growing success. The initiative has impacted the lives of over 500 children and successfully secured fully funded educational scholarships for over 100 of those children in local and international institutions.
Breaking Records, Raising Awareness
Tunde Onakoya embarked on a world record challenge in April, 2024 hoping to raise $1 million for children’s education across Africa through the attempt. He had set out to play the royal game for 58 hours. Still, he continued until he reached 60 hours at about 12:40 am (04:40GMT) on Saturday, surpassing the current chess marathon record of 56 hours, 9 minutes, and 37 seconds, achieved in 2018 by Norwegians Hallvard Haug Flatebo and Sjur Ferkingstad.
Onakoya played against Shawn Martinez, an American chess champion, by Guinness World Records guidelines. Two players who play continuously for the entire duration must attempt to break the record. Onakoya and his opponent got only five minutes’ break for every hour of game played.
While he was trying to set a new record, he got support from the Nigerian community at home and in New York. Afrobeats stars like Davido and Adekunle Gold also showed up to give their support.
Conclusion
Tunde Onakoya’s story is a powerful testament to chess’s transformative potential and the human spirit’s resilience. His journey from the slums of Lagos to the world stage has been remarkable. His unwavering commitment to education, social justice, and the belief that every child deserves a chance to thrive is admirable.
In the annals of chess history, Tunde Onakoya’s name will be etched not only as a master of the game but as a champion of hope, and a beacon of possibility.
It is truly possible to do great things from a small place!