Onakoya made this known in Maiduguri while rounding off his three-day visit to Borno during which he promoted the game among children in collaboration with the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Officers Mess Maiduguri Chess Club.
Onakoya, who is founder and convener of “Chess in Slums in Africa” focused on providing interventions for children in Lagos slums, said he wanted to replicate what he did in Lagos, in Borno.
Onakoya, Guinness World Record holder arrives Borno to promote Chess
The chess master, who visited two displaced persons camps in Maiduguri where he engaged in a series of coaching games and lectures with the children, said he was impressed with the kids’ display of intelligence.
According to him, the proposed tournament for the kids would herald the essence of his project to raise a generation of thinkers.
He urged government to introduce chess into school curriculum to activate a generation of critical thinkers and problem solvers.
Onakoya said that his coming to Maiduguri was his first trip to the North, and he was glad that he came to contribute through chess to improve the intelligence level of the vulnerable children in collaboration with NAF.
Also speaking, Commander of the 105 Composite Group of NAF, Maiduguri Base, Air Commodore C.O. Olayera, lauded Onakoya for the visit and engagements to promote chess which, he said, was worth the while.
Olayera, who is also the patron of NAF Officers Mess Chess Club, assured the chess master of the club’s commitment to partner with him in reaching out to the children in Borno.
“I think we have really achieved the objective of having you in Borno,” Olayera said.
BRANDPOWER reports that Onakoya, during the three-day visit, engaged children in camps for training sessions and interactions, and also held sessions with children from schools and members of the NAF Mess chess club.
Lauds UNFPA for providing ‘friendly space’ for girls
Maiduguri, Sept. 2, 2024 (NAN) Tunde Onakoya, Nigerian chess player/coach who holds a Guinness World Record for the longest marathon chess game has lauded the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) for providing a friendly space for girls to learn skills.
Onakoya gave the commendation during his visit to the UNFPA centre im Muna Displaced Persons Camp in Maiduguri, where he interacted with some of the girls engaged in playing chess.
Onakoya who was in Borno to promote chess game under his project “Chess in Slums in Africa” that is providing interventions to children in Lagos slums, said such support would be provided to the girls to sharpen their intelligence.
The chess master who had some chess training sessions with the girls at the centre, lauded their capacity for learning and urged them to remain steadfast inorder to excel.
Onakoya, who also met with some of the girls’ parents, urged them to continue to support their children to succeed through maximum use of the opportunities provided by the centre.
Receiving the Guinness record holder at the centre, the personnel in charge, Ms Deborah Iliya said the centre was established to provide safe space for women and girls who experienced the devastating effect of the insurgency.
Iliya said the centre provides access to various healthcare services and psychosocial support alongside various skills acquisition training that has continued to empower many women and girls in the camp.
She thanked Onakoya for visiting and training girls interested in sharpening their intelligence through chess, and urged other stakeholders to support the facility in any way particularly by patronising the assorted products being made by the girls.
Some of the girls who spoke about their experiences in playing chess games, said it will sharpen their thinking, help them to heal and recover from the traumatic experiences from the insurgency.
