Tunde Onakoya, the Nigerian chess player and coach who holds Guinness World Records for the longest marathon chess game has arrived in Maiduguri, Borno State’s capital city to promote the game among the youths.
Mr Onakoya, who is the founder and convener of “Chess in Slums in Africa”, a non-governmental organisation providing interventions for children in Lagos slums, arrived in Maiduguri on Friday, August 30, 2024.
Upon his arrival, the chess master visited children at the internally displaced persons camps in Muna and Bolori.
The children were trained in chess games by members of the 105 Composite Group of the Nigeria Air Force, Maiduguri, Mess Club.
Mr Onakoya, in interactive sessions and game time with the male and female children in the camps, lauded them for their commitment and zeal in the game.
He urged the children to sustain the tempo and assured them that the game would not only sharpen their talents but would take them to places just like him.
He narrated his story as someone from a poor background like them, and how he started learning the game when he was 10 years old.
Many of the children who spoke, particularly girls who had experienced trauma due to the insurgency, said the game had been helpful in their healing and recovery process.
Mr Onakoya and his team also paid a courtesy call to the Commander of 105 Composite Group of Nigeria Air Force, Maiduguri, Air Commodore C.O. Olayera.
The commander commended the world record holder for the programme aimed at supporting vulnerable children to explore their talents and potential.
Mr Olayera assured the Air Force’s commitment to collaborate with stakeholders as part of its social responsibility in supporting vulnerable children to pursue education.
The collaboration according to him, will also be a platform for nurturing and mentoring the children to excel in various fields and contribute to societal growth and development.
