President Bola Tinubu on Monday night received Tunde Onakoya, the acclaimed Nigerian chess master and founder of Chess in Slums Africa, at his Lagos residence.
The visit marked a significant moment as Tunde Onakoya presented his Guinness World Record certificate for the longest chess marathon to the president.
The meeting was shared via President Tinubu’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle.
He celebrated Onakoya’s remarkable feat achieved in April when he and American partner Shawn Martinez played chess continuously for 64 hours in New York City.
The duo surpassed the previous record of 60 hours, briefly held by a Norwegian team.
They reclaimed global recognition for Onakoya’s relentless passion and resilience.
Commending Tunde Onakoya, President Tinubu highlighted the young chess champion’s transformational work with children from underprivileged backgrounds.
“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.
He further praised Chess in Slums Africa for using chess as a tool to inspire, educate, and empower marginalised children across Nigerian communities.
The president expressed his eagerness to support and scale the initiative at the national level.
“I would love to see how his work can be replicated nationwide. I’m looking forward to seeing him in Abuja to explore how the government can support him,” Tinubu added.
“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.”
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Tunde Onakoya’s visit to President Tinubu further cements his role as a global ambassador for youth excellence and community impact.
