On Monday night, Tunde Onakoya, the founder of Chess in Slums Africa and a well-known chess player from Nigeria, met with President Bola Tinubu and gave him his Guinness World Record certificate for the longest chess marathon.
In a message posted on the president’s official X (formerly Twitter) account, Tinubu revealed the encounter and praised Onakoya for his work with underprivileged kids and his attempts to use chess to further education and development.
“Today, I welcomed Tunde Onakoya, the founder of Chess in Slums Africa, to my home, where he also gave me his World Record for the longest Chess Marathon,” the president wrote.
From the streets of Lagos to helping underprivileged kids and setting world records, Tude’s career exemplifies the tenacity and intelligence of Nigeria’s young people.
“He opens minds and changes lives in communities that are too frequently disregarded through chess.”
Additionally, Tinubu indicated a desire to investigate the possibility of nationalizing Onakoya’s program.
“I am eager to see him in Abuja to learn how the government can help him, and I would love to see how his work can be replicated nationwide.”
“Our administration shares Tude Onakoya’s vision: no child is left behind and no talent is wasted.
“We will walk with him, and Nigeria is proud of him.”
According to reports, Onakoya and Shawn Martinez, an American chess player, played nonstop for 64 hours in New York City, setting a new Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon.
The accomplishment beat his previous record of 60 hours, which was momentarily eclipsed in 2024 by a Norwegian pair.
About The Author
