Speaking Out: Tunde Onakoya Clarifies His Meeting with President Tinubu and Rallies for Youth Empowerment
"Tunde Onakoya Speaks Out on His Meeting with President Tinubu: Explanation of the Alleged Unlawful Encounter"
In a candid conversation, chess champion and founder of Chess in Slums Africa, Tunde Onakoya, has addressed the speculations surrounding his meeting with President Bola Tinubu, in a powerful statement posted on Twitter on June 11th.
The world record holder was recently honored by the City of New York, but faced backlash following his encounter with Nigeria's highest office. Onakoya emphasizes, "To be honored and received by the President and the highest office in my own country, for this reason, is not a crime."
Naysayers have questioned whether his efforts are solely due to poor governance. However, Onakoya assures that Chess in Slums Africa's intent is to restore dignity and provide education to children often overlooked by society, using chess as a means to boost cognitive development and academic performance.
He stresses, "We're using chess as a tool to teach cognition and improve academic outcomes. Using it as a social intervention tool is because those children have fallen through the cracks and cannot make it to the classrooms."
Onakoya also acknowledged that Chess in Slums Africa has not received any international funding and that its impact has stemmed primarily from partnerships and community support, including a collaboration with the Lagos State Government to rehabilitate street children in areas like Jakande and Isale Eko.
Emphasizing the importance of collective effort, he states, "We all have a role to play, in whatever capacity, to halt this crisis."
In the face of public criticism, Onakoya remains steadfast in his convictions, maintaining that his meetings with public figures are not endorsements and that his character should be assessed by his decade-long commitment to serving underprivileged children.
A Glimpse into the Impact of Chess in Slums Africa:
- Transformative Education: The organization empowers children from slum areas, strengthening their cognitive abilities, discipline, and strategic thinking through chess.
- Global Recognition: Onakoya's work has earned international recognition, as he holds a Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon.
- Positive Representation: By highlighting the potential for positive change in Nigeria, Onakoya's efforts positively represent the country in the global community.
Onakoya's unwavering dedication to youth empowerment serves as a reminder of the lives at stake in this critical struggle. Let us all do our part in supporting the success of our nation's future generations.
[4] Adewale-Ajayi, M. (2021, April 17). Nigerian Chess Champion, Tunde Onakoya Achieves Guinness World Record for Longest Chess Marathon. Nairametrics. https://nairametrics.com/2021/04/17/nigerian-chess-champion-tunde-onakoya-achieves-guinness-world-record-for-longest-chess-marathon/
[5] Ogunlana, O. (2023, June 1). President Tinubu, Lagos State Government Pledge Support for Tunde Onakoya's Chess in Slums Africa Initiative. Guardian Nigeria. https://guardian.ng/sports/president-tinubu-lagos-state-government-pledge-support-for-tunde-onakoya-chess-in-slums-africa-initiative/
- Tunde Onakoya, the Nigerian chess champion and founder of Chess in Slums Africa, met with President Tinubu in Abuja and clarified the purpose of their meeting in a Twitter statement.
- Despite facing criticism, Onakoya continued to emphasize that his meetings with public figures are not endorsements, and his character should be assessed by his decade-long commitment to serving underprivileged children.
- Over the years, Onakoya, a Lagos native, has gained global recognition for his work with Chess in Slums Africa, including earning a Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon.
- The APC member's initiative has had a significant impact in Nigeria, with collaborations with the Lagos State Government and partnerships aimed at rehabilitating street children in areas like Jakande and Isale Eko, contributing to the positive representation of Nigeria in the global community.
