Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has lauded the remarkable achievement of chess champion Tunde Onakoya, who set a new world record while raising funds to provide educational opportunities to underprivileged African children through his Chess in Slums Africa initiative.
Onakoya’s extraordinary feat has drawn widespread praise and attention, with President Tinubu commending the young Nigerian for his groundbreaking accomplishment.
The Nigerian chess champion and child education advocate broke the world record for the longest chess marathon after playing unbeaten for more than 58 hours in New York City’s Times Square to raise money for underprivileged children.
The 29-year-old embarked on his marathon session on Wednesday, hoping to raise $1 million for children’s education across Africa through the record attempt.
In a statement, Tinubu hailed Onakoya’s feat as a resounding testament to the resilience, self-belief, and ingenuity of Nigeria’s youth. He celebrated the chess prodigy’s ability to “baffle impossibility” and drive positive change even from disadvantaged circumstances.
“Tunde has shown a streak customary among Nigeria’s youth population, the audacity to make good change happen; to propel innovations and solutions to the nation’s challenges, even from corners of disadvantage,” the President stated.
Tinubu further highlighted how Nigerian youths across various fields, including Afrobeats, Nollywood, comedy skits, education, science, and technology, have consistently demonstrated their capacity to achieve remarkable success against all odds.
The President commended the unity and unwavering support Nigerians have shown for Onakoya’s endeavor, transcending artificial divisions, describing the initiative as an “epoch-making endeavor.”
Significantly, Tinubu affirmed his administration’s steadfast commitment to creating and expanding opportunities for the nation’s youth. “I assure all citizens that my administration remains strongly committed to creating and expanding opportunities for the youth to explore and exercise their abilities and become the symbols of greatness our nation represents into the future,” he stated.
Onakoya’s record-breaking achievement and the President’s resounding endorsement have ignited a sense of pride and optimism among Nigerians, underscoring the immense potential of the country’s youth to drive innovation, progress, and societal transformation.
