On Monday night, June 9, 2025, Nigerian chess master and Chess in Slums Africa founder Tunde Onakoya met with President Bola Tinubu at his private residence in Lagos, where he showcased his Guinness World Record certificate for the longest chess marathon.
The encounter was announced via a post on Tinubu’s official X account, formerly Twitter. In April 2025, Onakoya, alongside American chess player Shawn Martinez, set a new global record by playing chess for 64 consecutive hours in New York City’s Times Square, eclipsing his own previous record of 60 hours set in April 2024, which had been briefly surpassed by a Norwegian duo earlier in 2024.
Tinubu, in his X post, lauded Onakoya’s commitment to leveraging chess to educate and uplift underprivileged children in Nigeria’s marginalized communities.
“I received Tunde Onakoya, founder of Chess in Slums Africa, at my residence today where he also presented his World Record for the longest Chess Marathon,” Tinubu stated.
“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.” The president expressed enthusiasm for scaling Onakoya’s initiative across the country, noting, “I would love to see how his work can be replicated nationwide and I am looking forward to seeing him in Abuja to hear how the government can support him.” He 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.”
Onakoya’s 64-hour marathon in April 2025, which raised over $150,000 toward his $1 million goal for children’s education in Africa, built on his 2024 record of 60 hours, which had already drawn global attention and praise from Tinubu for showcasing Nigeria’s ingenuity.
Chess in Slums Africa, founded in 2018, has impacted over 10,000 children in Lagos slums like Ikorodu, Makoko, and Oshodi, securing scholarships for 500, per Tribune Online.
The meeting underscores Tinubu’s support for youth-driven initiatives, amid Nigeria’s challenges like 34% inflation and political rifts, per your prior queries.
What you should know
Tunde Onakoya, founder of Chess in Slums Africa, met President Tinubu in Lagos on June 9, presenting his Guinness World Record for a 64-hour chess marathon set in April 2025 with Shawn Martinez.
Tinubu praised Onakoya’s work empowering underserved children through chess and pledged government support to expand the initiative nationwide, aligning with his youth empowerment agenda. The meeting highlights Nigeria’s resilience amid economic and political challenges.
